a big stir

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a big stir" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation that causes a lot of excitement, commotion, or controversy. Example: "The announcement of the new policy created a big stir among the employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

The cover article caused a big stir.

The New York Times

"The little brat's caused a big stir in this county.

The New York Times

"At the time, it made a big stir because people said it's nonsense, it has to be wrong," he said.

Princeton University

No surprise — this has created a big stir in Israel, flaring again Sunday.

The Washington Post

Give things a big stir, then add the water to barely cover.

The Washington Post

She blossomed as it went on and it really made a big stir.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Another night, after amassing some brown rice and cans of bamboo shoots, water chestnuts and baby corn at Jack's, I bought some Chinese broccoli off-site for a big stir-fry.

The New York Times - Food

Later a powerful Western Zhou food vessel with stylized dragons in low relief caused a bigger stir.

The New York Times - Arts

Based on that, one had to know that her cancer was going to be more interesting, have more "growth potential" and cause a bigger stir than mine.

The New York Times

But Fiennes's much better reviewed Coriolanus shows signs of creating a bigger stir - an indication that Hollywood stars are no longer such a novelty and theatregoers are prepared to respond on merit.

The Guardian

But it was under President Barack Obama that the annual White House iftar dinner began to cause a bigger stir — in part because the president resurrected the story of Jefferson's 1805 dinner with Mellimelli.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a big stir" to describe situations where an event, announcement, or action has generated significant attention or caused controversy.

Common error

While "a big stir" is acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "significant attention" or "considerable controversy" in professional contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a big stir" functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the object of a verb, describing something that has caused a significant reaction or disturbance. Ludwig provides numerous examples where it is used in this way.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a big stir" is a common and grammatically correct English expression used to describe a situation that causes significant excitement, commotion, or controversy. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While acceptable in most situations, it's important to consider the register and choose more formal alternatives like "significant attention" or "considerable controversy" in professional or academic writing. Several alternative phrases, such as "a great commotion" or "significant buzz", can be used to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a great commotion

Focuses more on the noisy and disruptive aspect of the event.

a major upheaval

Emphasizes the disruptive and transformative nature of the situation.

considerable excitement

Highlights the enthusiasm and anticipation generated.

significant buzz

Focuses on the widespread conversation and interest surrounding the event.

a notable uproar

Stresses the strong disapproval or protest involved.

considerable furore

This alternative highlights public anger or outrage.

a great deal of controversy

Highlights the divisive nature of the event or issue.

much sensation

Emphasizes the startling or shocking nature of the event.

a lot of publicity

Focuses on the attention received from media outlets.

a significant impact

Underscores the importance and influence of the event.

FAQs

How can I use "a big stir" in a sentence?

You can use "a big stir" to describe something that causes excitement or controversy. For example: "The new policy caused a big stir among the employees."

What can I say instead of "a big stir"?

You can use alternatives like "a great commotion", "significant buzz", or "considerable excitement" depending on the context.

Is "a big stir" formal or informal?

"A big stir" is generally considered neutral in tone, suitable for news articles and general conversation. However, more formal alternatives might be preferable in academic or business writing.

What is the difference between "a big stir" and "a major upheaval"?

"A big stir" generally implies excitement or controversy, while "a major upheaval" suggests a more disruptive and transformative event.