stir (redirected from stirred out)

*stir-crazy

crazy from being confined. (*Typically: be ~; become ~; go ~; get ~; make someone ~. stir is a slang word for prison.) I am going to go stir-crazy if I don't get out of this office.

cause (quite) a stir and cause a commotion

to cause people to become agitated; to cause trouble in a group of people; to shock or alarm people. When Bob appeared without jacket and tie, it caused a stir at the state dinner. The dog ran through the church and caused quite a commotion.

See also: cause

stir someone (in)to something

to excite someone into doing something. The events of the day stirred everyone into action. The danger stirred them to action.

stir someone up

Fig. to get someone excited; to get someone angry. (Fig. on stir something up.) The march music really stirred the audience up. The march stirred up the audience.

See also: up

stir something around

to agitate or mix a liquid substance by moving it in a circular motion. stir the mixture around to mix it up. You should stir the dressing around a bit before you serve it.

See also: around

stir something into something and stir something in

to mix something into something. The painter stirred too much red pigment into the paint. The painter stirred in the pigment.

stir something up 

1. Lit. to mix something by stirring. Please stir the pancake batter up before you use it. Please stir up the batter.

2. Fig. to cause trouble. Why are you always trying to stir trouble up? Are you stirring up trouble again?

See also: up

stir up a hornet's nest

Fig. to create a lot of trouble. (Fig. on stir something up .) If you say that to her, you will be stirring up a hornet's nest. There is no need to stir up a hornet's nest.

See also: nest, up

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cause/create a stir

to cause a lot of interest and excitement Emma caused quite a stir in her little black dress last night.

See also: cause

stir-crazy  (mainly American informal)

upset and nervous because you have been in one place for too long

Usage notes: Stir is a word used in American English for a prison.

It's no wonder she's going stir-crazy, shut in that tiny house all day with three young children.

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cause a stir also create a stir

to cause unusual interest or excitement Rufus was arguing with his older daughter about her boyfriend, and it caused a stir in the family.

Usage notes: often used with quite for emphasis: Her latest novel has created quite a stir.

See also: cause

stir up somebody/something also stir up a hornet's nest

to cause a situation that upsets many people One official claimed that foreign activists were stirring up trouble. The threat of censorship stirred up a hornet's nest of criticism on the Internet.

See also: up