Cause a stir meaning in English

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Definition

(his resignation) caused a stir: (his resignation) created agitation, a disturbance idiom

Examples

  • "A recent survey in the Washington Post is causing quite a stir across the United States."
  • "Bruno and Horatio's Miracle Juices, a fledgling juice and smoothie bar, caused a stir last month when their "miraculous" juices allegedly cured a man of his loneliness, reunited a lost parrot with his lover, and helped settle a bitter dispute between a chicken and an egg."
Exercise 1
"A recent survey in the Washington Post is causing quite a stir across the United States."

Choose the sentences from the list below which use the idiom to cause a stir correctly.

There may be more than one correct answer!

"A recent survey in the Washington Post is causing quite a stir across the United States."

Choose the sentences from the list below which use the idiom to cause a stir correctly.

There may be more than one correct answer!
This sentence does not use the idiom "cause a stir" correctly. When used idiomatically, the noun "a stir" and the entire expression "to cause a stir" refers to controversy, excitement or surprise. The term can't be used to describe a technical problem with a computer. Note that this expression is rarely followed by the preposition "with".
This sentence does not use the idiom "cause a stir" correctly. Although the verb "to stir" literally describes the action of moving something (such as a spoon) through a liquid, in a circular motion, the idiom "to cause a stir" has a totally different meaning.
This sentence uses the idiom "to cause a stir" correctly. When you "cause a stir", you cause unusual interest, excitement, or controversy. It is likely that Bruno's decision to leave his company caused panic or surprise amongst the employees. Brent opens this broadcast by saying that the results of a recent survey have "caused a stir", meaning that they are generating interest or controversy in the United States. Note that this expression does not indicate a value judgment: a film which "caused a stir" didn't cause a negative or positive reaction, it simply caused a reaction.
This sentence uses the idiom "to cause a stir" correctly. When you "cause a stir", you cause unusual interest, excitement, or controversy. The film Basic Instinct is notorious due to its graphic sex scenes, which were very controversial in puritanical American circles. Brent opens this broadcast by saying that the results of a recent survey have "caused a stir", meaning that they are generating interest or controversy in the United States. Note that this expression does not indicate a value judgment: a film which "caused a stir" didn't cause a negative or positive reaction, it simply caused a reaction.

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