Grammar fix
stir up
provoke trouble or strong feelings (often negative)
to deliberately cause trouble, strong emotions, or conflict, especially by making people feel angry or upset about something
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
The politician's speech stirred up a lot of anger among the workers.
Some people believe that the media often stirs up public fear to attract more viewers, which can have negative effects on society.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: She likes to stir up with trouble.
Say: She likes to stir up trouble.
'Stir up' takes the object directly — no 'with' (or just 'stir things up').
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Stir up' is the everyday verb for provoking conflict or strong feeling; 'incite discord' is formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
stir up + trouble
- trouble
- controversy
- bad feeling
- the crowd