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make waves

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make waves

Sl. to cause difficulty. (Often in the negative.) Just relax. Don't make waves. If you make waves too much around here, you won't last long.

See also: make, WAVES

make waves

to shock or upset people with something new or different Her clothes have made waves on the fashion scene around the world.

Usage notes: often used in the form not make waves: We decided not to make waves with our parents and agreed to have a real wedding.

Related vocabulary: don't rock the boat

See also: make, WAVES

make waves

to change an existing situation in a way which causes problems or upsets people Some workers felt it was not the time to make waves by organizing a union. Our culture encourages us to fit the norm and not to make waves.

See also: make, WAVES

make waves

Cause a disturbance or controversy, as in We've finally settled our differences, so please don't make waves. This expression alludes to causing turbulence in the water. [Slang; mid-1900s] Also see rock the boat.

See also: make, WAVES

make waves

tv. to cause difficulty. (Often in the negative.) If you make waves too much around here, you won’t last long.

See also: make, WAVES

make waves

Slang

To cause a disturbance or controversy.

See also: make, WAVES