put the cat among the pigeons

• set the cat among the pigeons

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put the cat among the pigeons (third-person singular simple present puts the cat among the pigeons, present participle putting the cat among the pigeons, simple past and past participle put the cat among the pigeons)

1. (figuratively) To cause alarm, fuss, or agitation.
   • 1994, The Times, 19 September

     Professor Stephen Hawking put the cat among the pigeons last week with his cheery remarks about comet Machholz-2, which some astronomers believe could be heading our way.

• flutter in the dovecote

• Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, Cassell, 1996