agitate against (someone or something)
To provoke or encourage negative feelings or opinions about someone or something; to protest something. The protesters are agitating against the company's unfair working conditions. The students have had great success agitating against the closure of the dorm, but I don't know that they will be able to change the dean's mind. No, we don't want a shopping mall in our small town, and we will agitate against it until plans are scrapped!
agitate for (something)
To encourage and build support for a cause, especially by actively campaigning for it. The students have had great success agitating for more social events on campus, but the dean is still opposed to the idea. The protesters are agitating for better working conditions from the company. A: "Are you guys seriously agitating for a shopping mall in our small town?" B: "Yeah, we're sick having to travel 10 miles to the grocery store!"
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
agitate against someone or something
to stir up active dissatisfaction about someone or something. The students were agitating against the closing of the old cafeteria.
agitate for something
to stir up active support for something. The committee agitated for a change, but nothing was done.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.