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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

put the cat among the pigeons en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (figuratively) To cause alarm, fuss, or agitation.
    • In any event, this professorial detonation, especially coming as it does from hardline Federalist Society constitutional originalists, has set the cat among the Republican pigeons. 2023 September 2, Simon Schama, “The real Rino”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 2:
    • Professor Stephen Hawking put the cat among the pigeons last week with his cheery remarks about comet Machholz-2, which some astronomers believe could be heading our way. 1994 September 19, The Times:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
set the cat among the pigeons alternative lexicographic
puts the cat among the pigeons Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
putting the cat among the pigeons Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
put the cat among the pigeons Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
put the cat among the pigeons Tense=Past lexicographic

Relateds

flutter in the dovecote

Translations (7)

nl de knuppel in het hoenderhok gooien (Translations) · pl wsadzić kij w mrowisko (Translations) · fr jeter un pavé dans la mare (Translations) · fr enfermer le loup dans la bergerie (Translations) · gd cuir an clamhan gobhlach am measg nan cearc (Translations) · pl wsadzać kij w mrowisko (Translations) · fi herättää huolta (Translations)