agitate
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Related to agitating: aggravating
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!
See also: agitate
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. © 2022 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.
See also: agitate
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.
agitate against
v.
To stir up public opposition to some cause or issue: The students in front of the administration building were agitating against the increase in tuition.
See also: agitate
agitate for
v.
To stir up public support for some cause or issue: The union decided to agitate for better health insurance.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.