a flutter in the dovecote

A stir or mild disturbance among a certain organization or group of people, especially one that is typically quiet, reserved, or conservative in nature. Likened to domestic pigeons fluttering their wings in response to an agitation (a dovecote being a structure built to house and raise them). The unexpected entrance of an exuberant young woman caused a bit of a flutter in the dovecote at the old Men's Only club. Eloise, are you mad? You'll set off a flutter in the dovecote if you leave your shoulders bare in church! Take off your hat this instant! Wearing a hat indoors—are you trying to cause a flutter in the dovecote?

flutter the dovecote

To cause a stir or mild disturbance among a certain organization or group of people, especially one that is typically quiet, reserved, or conservative in nature. Likened to domestic pigeons fluttering their wings in response to an agitation (a dovecote being a structure built to house and raise them). The exuberant young woman fluttered the dovecote of the old Men's Only club by bursting in unannounced. Eloise, are you mad? You'll flutter the dovecote if you leave your shoulders bare in church! Take off your hat this instant! Wearing a hat indoors—are you trying to flutter the dovecote?

flutter the dovecotes

alarm, startle, or upset a sedate or conventionally minded community.

This expression may come from Shakespeare's Coriolanus: ‘like an eagle in a dove-cote, I Fluttered your Volscians in Corioli’. Compare with put the cat among the pigeons (at cat).

1992 Daily Telegraph It is however the arrival of Michael Heseltine at the DTI that will flutter the dovecotes most of all.