From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstir somebody/something ↔ up phrasal verb1 ARGUEto deliberately try to cause arguments or bad feelings between people John was always stirring up trouble in class. Dave’s just trying to stir things up because he’s jealous.2 MOVE something OR somebodyto make small pieces of something move around in the air or in water The wind had stirred up a powdery red dust. → stir→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
stir up• But these two guys got together: they are making inquiries, stirring things up.• He no longer simply makes meaningful speeches that stir things up.• This country is in enough trouble without the likes of you, and Tariq Ali etc, stirring it up.• I heard you both the other day raising your voices, I think you stir him up and lead him on.• This stirred them up and prevented blockages.• Scathach stirred, sat up and rubbed his eyes, blinking at the dawn, scratching his beard.• He should stir the patient up once in a while and try to make him go through the engram.stirring up trouble• While all this was going on agents of Naggaroth were abroad throughout the Old World stirring up trouble. 