making waves
Stirring up trouble
Making waves means causing a disturbance or creating controversy, especially by challenging established practices or expectations.
Someone who makes waves disrupts the status quo rather than going along quietly: She's not afraid to make waves when she sees something wrong.
The phrase often carries a note of admiration for boldness, though it can also suggest unwelcome troublemaking: Don't make waves if you want to keep your job.
Noisy public disturbance
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- outrageFierce moral indignation
- furorIntense public excitement
stir · buzz · attention · headlines · notoriety · provocation · polarizing · divisive
Public expression of disapproval
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- rallyGathering for a cause
grassroots · petition · lobbying · sit-in · picketing · civil rights · reform · justice
Sudden structural overhaul
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- disturbanceDisruption of order
- unrestState of public disturbance
destabilization · upset · rocking the boat · unsettling · agitation · commotion · upending · overturning
Sudden important advance
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- trailblazingBeing the first through
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
game-changing · disruptive · groundbreaking · trendsetting · transformative · forward-thinking · fresh ideas · new approach
Forceful contact or consequence
- ripple effectCascading secondary results
- reverberationProlonged reflected sound
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- domino effectSequential causation phenomenon
spreading · reach · resonance · momentum · gaining traction · catching on · inspiring · motivating
uproar
Noisy public disturbance
furor · stir · buzz · attention · headlines · notoriety · provocation · polarizing · divisive · criticism
protest
Public expression of disapproval
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
rally · grassroots · petition · lobbying · sit-in · picketing · civil rights · reform · justice · equality
shake-up
Sudden structural overhaul
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- disturbanceDisruption of order
unrest · destabilization · upset · rocking the boat · unsettling · agitation · commotion · upending · overturning
breakthrough
Sudden important advance
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- trailblazingBeing the first through
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
revolutionary · game-changing · disruptive · groundbreaking · trendsetting · transformative · forward-thinking · fresh ideas · new approach · originality
impact
Forceful contact or consequence
- ripple effectCascading secondary results
- reverberationProlonged reflected sound
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
domino effect · spreading · reach · resonance · momentum · gaining traction · catching on · inspiring · motivating · sparking
- figurative actionsburning bridges, biting tongue, burying hatchet, cutting ties, jumping ship
- sea idiomsall at sea, dead in the water, smooth sailing, sink or swim, miss the boat
- Fame Idiomsin the spotlight, center stage, in the limelight, household name, rising star
- advantagesedge, leverage, upper hand, leg up, head start
- outperformingsurpassing, exceeding, excelling, outperforming, outdoing
- metaphors for overachievementgoing the extra mile, raising the bar, going above and beyond, overdelivering, overperforming
making waveskeeping the peace
Maintaining order and calm
going along to get along · going with the flow · keeping a low profile · flying under the radar · keeping quiet
making wavesconforming
Meeting accepted standards
toeing the line · falling in line · going with the flow · going along to get along · staying in one's lane
make, wave, made, maker, making, waves, remake, makes, remade