trigger mayhem

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trigger mayhem" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where an action or event causes chaos or disorder. Example: "The unexpected announcement from the CEO triggered mayhem in the office, with employees scrambling to understand the implications."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The symbolic nature of the myth lies in the struggle between the wild animal and the human community, with the beast destabilizing the social fabric and triggering mayhem, much to the detriment of both.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

You know something's wrong when the trigger for mayhem and malevolence is a flash drive".

The Guardian - Film

The fact the pound then disappeared down the exchange-rate plughole did not save Osborne from the outrage of economic experts who felt his remarks helped to trigger the mayhem he said he feared.

The Guardian

U.S. officials have long worried that Kabul Bank, because of its size and unorthodox practices, could trigger financial mayhem, a prospect that would leave Afghan security forces without pay, threaten unrest by angry — and often armed — depositors and undermine President Obama's Afghan strategy.

The New Yorker

Outré improv team Alice Lowe and Steve Oram, who star in the film, spent a few years developing a stand-up act about a couple of quirky lovebirds named Tina and Chris, the nerds whose mood swings trigger "Sightseers" mayhem.

Los Angeles Times

These huge changes triggered geological mayhem.

The Guardian

The result is a thrilling symphony of well-timed maneuvers and trigger-tapping mayhem that will leave you wondering why you ever questioned the possibility of an FPS on the iPhone.

TechCrunch

Greece's successful completion of its debt restructuring on Friday, long feared as a trigger for financial mayhem, instead drew a sigh of relief among European officials and a muted response from investors.

The Washington Post

It was not Mr Sharon's visit to the al-Aqsa compound on 28 September that triggered the current mayhem; it was Israeli soldiers killing seven Palestinians and wounding 220 others the following day, a calculated act of oppression for which the 'peace-making' Mr Barak must accept responsibility.

The Guardian

Exactly the issues that have triggered the current mayhem.

Huffington Post

The mayhem was triggered when Mr Agius refused to serve Buck more alcohol, after topping up his glass 15 times in the course of the 10-hour flight from Seattle to London, where REM were due to play a "Freedom Day" concert in Trafalgar Square in honour of Nelson Mandela.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "trigger mayhem" to clearly and concisely express that a specific action or event has led to a chaotic or disorderly situation. It effectively conveys a sense of immediate and significant disruption.

Common error

While "trigger mayhem" is acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "precipitate disorder" or "cause disruption" in academic or professional writing to maintain a more serious tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trigger mayhem" functions as a verb phrase where "trigger" acts as the verb and "mayhem" is the noun object. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "trigger mayhem" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe an event that initiates chaos or disorder. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, it is more common in news and media than in academic or formal contexts. Consider alternatives such as "cause chaos" or "spark pandemonium" to suit different writing styles. When opting for more formal settings, phrases like "precipitate disorder" might be more appropriate. Always consider your audience and the desired tone when choosing between "trigger mayhem" and its alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cause chaos

This alternative uses more generic terms, replacing "trigger" with "cause" and "mayhem" with "chaos".

spark pandemonium

This alternative uses more dramatic language, substituting "trigger" with "spark" and "mayhem" with "pandemonium".

incite disorder

This alternative is more formal, replacing "mayhem" with "disorder" and "trigger" with "incite".

unleash bedlam

This alternative conveys a sense of releasing pent-up chaos, substituting "trigger" with "unleash" and "mayhem" with "bedlam".

set off turmoil

This alternative emphasizes the disruptive aspect, replacing "mayhem" with "turmoil" and "trigger" with "set off".

instigate havoc

This alternative suggests a deliberate act of causing chaos, substituting "trigger" with "instigate" and "mayhem" with "havoc".

generate uproar

This alternative focuses on public disturbance, replacing "mayhem" with "uproar" and "trigger" with "generate".

precipitate anarchy

This alternative indicates a descent into lawlessness, substituting "mayhem" with "anarchy" and "trigger" with "precipitate".

initiate a rampage

This alternative suggests a violent and destructive outburst, replacing "mayhem" with "rampage" and "trigger" with "initiate".

prompt disruption

This alternative is milder, replacing "mayhem" with "disruption" and "trigger" with "prompt".

FAQs

How can I use "trigger mayhem" in a sentence?

You can use "trigger mayhem" to describe an event that causes chaos or disorder. For example, "The announcement triggered mayhem in the stock market."

What can I say instead of "trigger mayhem"?

You can use alternatives like "cause chaos", "spark pandemonium", or "incite disorder" depending on the context.

Is "trigger mayhem" too informal for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "trigger mayhem" might be considered informal for certain academic contexts. Consider using more formal alternatives like "precipitate disorder" or "initiate disruption".

What is the difference between "trigger mayhem" and "cause chaos"?

"Trigger mayhem" often implies a more sudden and intense onset of chaos compared to "cause chaos", which can suggest a more gradual development.