start something

Idioms and Phrases

Cause trouble, especially a quarrel or fight, as in Stop bringing that up—do you want to start something ? [ Colloquial ; early 1900s]

Example Sentences

He'll start something and then he'll be like, "Oh, I wish you had been a part of it."

From Salon

With the cancer diagnosis giving Jane a new "focus", she found a group of similar families nearby - many old school friends of Ellie's - who were looking to start something called a housing cooperative.

From BBC

There’s definitely a sense that she’s about to start something.

From Los Angeles Times

“They bought in right from the start. It’s disappointing; when you start something like this you don’t do it to get three wins in the playoffs or five wins in the playoffs. You do it to go the whole way.”

From Seattle Times

“They’re not going to start something they can’t finish.”

From BBC

Related Words

• cross swords