a strongly unfavourable reaction (often in the phrase stir up a hornet's nest)
See full dictionary entry for hornet
hornet's nest in American English
Informal
a situation fraught with trouble, hostility, risk, etc.
hornet's nest in American English
noun
a large amount of activity, trouble, hostility, or animosity
His investigation stirred up a hornet's nest, resulting in major shifts in personnel
Word origin
[1730–40]This word is first recorded in the period 1730–40. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: bronze, canteen, maximum, swipe, thesaurus
Examples of 'hornet's nest' in a sentence
hornet's nest
This tour includes 26 nationalities, a political hornet's nest.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Yet this risks stirring a political hornet's nest.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
This is a hornet's nest of particularly strident vested interests and unwillingness to compromise.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
And woe betide the politician who stirs up the hornet's nest.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
One councillor said that they risked stirring up a hornet's nest among residents if they approved the 'vague' proposals.
Times, Sunday Times (2018)
Despite the lack of clarity surrounding the proposal, the year-long consultation has already stirred up a hornet's nest.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Unless the farmers were given incentives to grow other crops, 'we'll be stirring up a hornet's nest', he said.