[put|set|throw] the cat among the pigeons
1
to cause trouble or upset by saying or doing something that brings conflict into a peaceful situation
The idiom "put the cat among the pigeons" originated in the 1800s, when pigeon racing was a popular pastime. Pigeon racers would often keep their pigeons in dovecotes, which were large enclosures with many nesting boxes. If a cat was put in a dovecote, it would cause chaos among the pigeons, as they would scramble to escape. This expression is now used to describe any action that causes trouble or disruption in a group of people. It is often used in a negative sense, but it can also be used in a more positive sense, to describe an action that is necessary to break the status quo and bring about change.
- The politician's controversial remarks put the cat among the pigeons in his party.
- The new CEO's radical changes to the company's culture threw the cat among the pigeons.
- The whistleblower's revelations put the cat among the pigeons in the government.
- The young entrepreneur's innovative ideas set the cat among the pigeons in the established industry.
- The teacher's surprise quiz put the cat among the pigeons in the classroom.