What it means
To stir the pot means to poke a touchy situation so the drama keeps rolling. It's usually done on purpose by someone who wants a reaction, then sits there acting all innocent while everybody else starts popping off. Classic group chat gremlin behaviour, family dinner edition included.
Usage examples
"He loves to stir the pot, drops one cheeky line about the football, then sits back and watches the whole table go off."
"She never picks the fight herself, she just stirs the pot with one loaded question and lets the group chat melt down."
"Stop stirring the pot at dinner, you know exactly what happens when you bring up politics with Grandad."
"Don't start stirring the pot in the work chat, mate. One little comment about bonuses and now everyone's kicking off."
"My cousin lives for it. He'll stir the pot at Christmas, mention the old family fallout, then sit there smiling into his drink."
Where it comes from
It comes from the literal act of stirring a cooking pot so what's inside keeps moving. That kitchen image was being used figuratively in English by the 1800s for keeping trouble or argument alive, and from there stir the pot settled in as a handy way to say someone is nudging drama back into action.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.
We look after this expression together
If they say it where you live and something is missing here, bring it. A magikito looks at it and adds it.
- An example
- Your patch
- Your voice