causing a stir
Generating much attention
To cause a stir is to provoke interest, excitement, or controversy—to get people talking or reacting.
The phrase suggests disruption of calm, like stirring still water: Her resignation caused quite a stir.
A stir can be positive (buzz around a new artist) or negative (scandal, outrage).
The expression often appears with intensifiers: caused a big stir, caused a minor stir.
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- announcementPublic declaration of information
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- raising eyebrowsPrompting skeptical reactions
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
making waves · debate · backlash · public outcry · rumor · polarization · controversy · hot take · outrage · trendsetting · disruption · excitement · uproar · gossip · tongues wagging · water cooler talk · political upheaval · media circus
causing a stirflying under the radar
Remaining undetected deliberately
keeping the peace · business as usual · blending in · soothing · falling flat
cause, causes, caused, causing, causation, causal, causally, causative, stir