hornet's nest

noun

1. a large amount of activity, trouble, hostility, or animosity:

   His investigation stirred up a hornet's nest, resulting in major shifts in personnel.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hornet's nest¹

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

"The other thing is, when you kick the hornets' nest, sometimes issues arise that you then go and deal with," Fine added, suggesting that Disney went outside its purview by rebuking H.B.

From Salon

He also said any investigation should look into whether or not there was "a real hornets' nest of other WW2 criminals" working for the UK.

From BBC

But judicial sources told public television that a series of police raids on Sunday were not intended to prevent an attack but "to give the hornets' nest a good kick".

From BBC

But in choosing the giant sneaker and athletic wear company as his backdrop, Obama has stirred a hornets' nest.

From US News

Then there's the high-profile conflict with Chechnya, as well as lesser-known squabbles with ethnic groups in the Russian North Caucasus, a veritable hornets' nest of long-term political discontent where an Islamist insurgency boils.

From The Guardian