1
general::
stir sth up
[ M ] EMOTION
1. to cause an unpleasant emotion or problem to begin or grow
• The teacher told him to stop stirring up trouble.
• The photographs stirred up some painful memories., stir sth up
[ M ] SUBSTANCE
2. to cause a substance such as soil or dust to move and rise up
• The helicopter stirred up clouds of dust.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
3
general::
noun action of stirring ADJ. good VERB + STIR give sth Give the mixture a good stir. general excitement or shock ADJ. considerable, great, real VERB + STIR cause, create PREP. ~ about/over There was quite a stir about the book. | ~ among/amongst The discovery caused something of a stir among physicists. PHRASES quite a/something of a stir, verb move a liquid round and round ADV. thoroughly, well | carefully, gently | vigorously | gradually | all the time, constantly, continuously Bring to the boil, stirring all the time. | occasionally | in Gradually stir in the beaten egg. PREP. into Chop an onion and stir it into the sauce. move ADV. barely, hardly The wind came in tiny puffs that hardly stirred the surface of the water. | slightly | suddenly | restlessly The students stirred restlessly in their seats. | sleepily | uneasily PHRASES stir in your sleep make sb feel an emotion ADV. deeply, greatly It was not music to set hearts on fire or deeply stir the emotions. | up Going back there stirred up a lot of memories for her.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary