stirring up difficulties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stirring up difficulties" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing actions or behaviors that create problems or complications in a situation. Example: "His constant complaints were just stirring up difficulties for the team, making it harder to reach a consensus."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

It might be stirring up trouble".

The Guardian

Myers reported that Jaara was still stirring up trouble overseas.

The New York Times - Magazine

The phone tax started stirring up trouble in the 1990s.

Forbes

Those lovable rascals from Andreessen Horowitz-backed Rap Genius are stirring up trouble again.

TechCrunch

Of course, it could just be bloggers stirring up trouble again.

TechCrunch

It can be found stirring up trouble worldwide.

Huffington Post

Extremists are stirring up trouble.

The Economist

Socrates was executed for stirring up trouble.

The New York Times

Like Sade, he loves stirring up trouble.

The New York Times

They said the news media were stirring up trouble.

The New York Times

Caruana Galizia was certainly used to stirring up trouble.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stirring up difficulties" when you want to emphasize the active role someone or something plays in creating or worsening problems. It suggests a deliberate or at least energetic involvement in causing trouble.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "stirring up difficulties" can sound less formal than alternatives like "exacerbating issues" or "complicating matters". Choose your phrasing based on the tone of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stirring up difficulties" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a larger sentence. It describes the action of actively creating or intensifying problems or complications. The Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stirring up difficulties" is a grammatically correct verb phrase that describes the action of actively creating or worsening problems. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and choose a more formal alternative like "exacerbating issues" or "complicating matters" when necessary. Despite its clear meaning, the phrase appears to be used rarely across different sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

creating problems

Focuses on the act of bringing problems into existence.

causing trouble

Highlights the act of initiating trouble or disturbance.

exacerbating issues

Emphasizes the act of making existing issues worse.

complicating matters

Focuses on making things more intricate or complex.

aggravating the situation

Highlights the worsening of an already negative situation.

fuelling conflict

Emphasizes the act of adding intensity to a conflict.

instigating problems

Focuses on initiating or setting problems in motion.

provoking complications

Highlights the act of eliciting or causing complications.

raising obstacles

Focuses on the act of creating impediments or barriers.

sowing discord

Emphasizes the act of spreading disagreement or conflict.

FAQs

How can I use "stirring up difficulties" in a sentence?

You can use "stirring up difficulties" to describe actions that create problems. For example, "His constant complaints were just stirring up difficulties for the team." Alternatives include "creating problems" or "causing trouble".

What's a more formal way to say "stirring up difficulties"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "exacerbating issues", "complicating matters", or "aggravating the situation", which convey a similar meaning but with a more professional tone.

What's the difference between "stirring up difficulties" and "solving problems"?

"Stirring up difficulties" describes actions that create or worsen problems, while "solving problems" refers to actions that resolve or alleviate them. They are opposite in meaning.

Is "stirring up difficulties" appropriate for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "stirring up difficulties" might be considered too informal for some academic contexts. Consider more precise and formal alternatives such as "exacerbating issues" or "complicating matters" depending on the specific meaning you intend to convey.