- foment trouble
- foment troubleto cause trouble. •
Leave it to Bob to foment trouble.
•I wasn't fomenting trouble, just expressing my opinion!
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
foment trouble
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foment — ferment, foment 1. Ferment is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable as a noun and with the stress on the second syllable as a verb. 2. As verbs, ferment and foment are often confused because they are pronounced approximately the same… … Modern English usage
foment — fomenter, n. /foh ment /, v.t. 1. to instigate or foster (discord, rebellion, etc.); promote the growth or development of: to foment trouble; to foment discontent. 2. to apply warm water or medicated liquid, ointments, etc., to (the surface of… … Universalium
foment — fo•ment [[t]foʊˈmɛnt[/t]] v. t. 1) to instigate or foster (discord, rebellion, etc.); promote the growth or development of: to foment trouble[/ex] 2) to apply warm water or medicated liquid, ointments, etc., to (the surface of the body) •… … From formal English to slang
foment — [fō ment′] vt. [ME fomenten < OFr fomenter < LL fomentare < L fomentum, poultice < fovere, to keep warm < IE * dhogwh < base * dhegwh , to burn > Sans dáhati, (it) burns, MIr daig, fire] 1. to treat with warm water, medicated … English World dictionary
foment — fo|ment [fəuˈment US fou ] v [Date: 1300 1400; : Late Latin; Origin: fomentare, from Latin fovere to make warm ] foment revolution/trouble/discord etc formal to cause trouble and make people start fighting each other or opposing the government =… … Dictionary of contemporary English
foment — verb formal foment revolution/trouble/discord etc to cause trouble and make people start fighting each other or opposing the government: They were accused of fomenting rebellion. fomentation noun (U) … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
foment — [[t]foʊme̱nt[/t]] foments, fomenting, fomented VERB If someone or something foments trouble or violent opposition, they cause it to develop. [FORMAL] [V n] They accused strike leaders of fomenting violence. Syn: incite … English dictionary
foment — v 1. instigate, incite, provoke, actuate, initiate, put in motion, sow the seeds of, Inf. start something, look for trouble; encourage, urge, abet, spur, goad, prompt, egg on, put up to; agitate, excite, suscitate, impassion, arouse, rouse, brew … A Note on the Style of the synonym finder
foment — v.tr. 1 instigate or stir up (trouble, sedition, etc.). 2 a bathe with warm or medicated liquid. b apply warmth to. Derivatives: fomenter n. Etymology: ME f. F fomenter f. LL fomentare f. L fomentum poultice, lotion f. fovere heat, cherish … Useful english dictionary
ferment, foment — In the sense of causing trouble, these words can be used interchangeably: Rebel soldiers fomented (or fermented) unrest among the people. Ferment literally means to act upon as a ferment, that is, to cause the giving off of gases that induce… … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
stir up trouble — (Roget s IV) v. Syn. cause difficulty, foment, agitate; see bother 2 , disturb 2 … English dictionary for students
