shit-stirringn.
/ˈʃɪtstəːrɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈʃɪtˌstərɪŋ/, Australian English /ˈʃɪtstɜːrɪŋ/, New Zealand English /ˈʃɪtstɜːrɪŋ/ coarse slang (chiefly British, Australian and New Zealand).
The action of making trouble for its own sake.
ΚΠ
1971 F. Hardy Outcasts of Foolgarah viii. 91 Come on, Tich, old mate, we'll go and do a bit of shit-stirring amongst the shitties [sc. sewage workers].
1974 M. Shadbolt Touch of Clay 45 In the environmental crisis there's people who like shit-stirring. Starting provocative rumour.
1983 T. S. Beaton Outside In 17 Lay off, Ginny. Ain'tcha done enough shit stirrin' for one day!
1991 C. Barker Imajica (1992) 34 This was supposed to be an anonymous piece of shit-stirring, and look what you've done!
2000 Observer (Nexis) 3 Dec. (Review section) 1 People underestimate the subliminal impact of not just his music but the things he was doing publicly, like the shit-stirring.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
shit-stirringadj.
/ˈʃɪtstəːrɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈʃɪtˌstərɪŋ/, Australian English /ˈʃɪtstɜːrɪŋ/, New Zealand English /ˈʃɪtstɜːrɪŋ/ coarse slang (chiefly British, Australian and New Zealand).
That causes trouble, provocative.
ΚΠ
1976 I. Wedde Dick Seddon's Great Dive xi. 174 ‘You need to get out now before you're bored with being young,’ my mother said with a certain flat inflexion she reserved for such shit-stirring comments.
1990 A. Duff Once were Warriors xi. 146 Yeah, it was you, ya bitch! Ya shit-stirrin bitch, whatcha been tellin Beth? Poisoning the lady of the house's mind!
2005 Arena May 80/1 Where there is harmony, Arena aims to bring discord, as we train our shit-stirring gaze upon the hot topic of the day.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1971adj.1976