raise Cain

1. To create a disturbance: “Alan and his buddies were always raising Cain over at the frat house.”

Idioms and Phrases

Also, raise hell or the devil . Behave in a rowdy or disruptive way, as in He said he'd raise Cain if they wouldn't give him a refund , or The gang was out to raise hell that night , or The wind raised the devil with our picnic . The first term alludes to the son of Adam and Eve who killed his brother, Abel. It was first recorded in the St. Louis Daily Pennant (May 2, 1840): “Why have we every reason to believe that Adam and Eve were both rowdies? Because ... they both raised Cain.”. This statement makes a pun on raise , meaning “bring up” or “nurturing.” The two variants, alluding to bringing hell or the devil up to this world, are older, the first from about 1700, the second from about 1800.

Example Sentences

The remainder of the field, behind the two Baffert starters were Giant Mischief, Damon’s Mound, Raise Cain, Fort Bragg — also trained by Baffert — and Sharo Aza Tack.

From Los Angeles Times

FanDuelTV chronicled the trips of Raise Cain and Damonn’s Mound from Kentucky to run in the Malibu.

From Los Angeles Times

Everybody else has double-digit odds, with Jace’s Road, Raise Cain, Reincarnate, Sun Thunder and just-added King Russell the longest shots at 50-1.

From Seattle Times

Everybody else has double-digit odds, with Jace’s Road, Raise Cain, Reincarnate, Sun Thunder and just-added King Russell the longest shots at 50-1.

From Washington Times

Raise Cain also looked strong while winning the Gotham Stakes at New York’s Aqueduct by 7½ lengths.

From Los Angeles Times