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stir up fear

[/stɜr ʌp fɪr/]
verb phrase
incitar medo; suscitar medo
1. To deliberately provoke or create fear in people; to cause anxiety or alarm
The politician's inflammatory speech stirred up fear among the voters.
O discurso inflamado do político suscitou medo entre os eleitores.
2. To agitate emotions and generate panic or concern
Misinformation on social media can stir up fear in communities.
A desinformação nas redes sociais pode incitar medo nas comunidades.
NYC Slang
whip up fear; hype up fear
Synonyms
provoke fearincite panicfoment anxietykindle dreadarouse alarminstigate fear
Antonyms
calm fearsallay anxietysoothe nervesreassurepacifyquell panic

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
incitar medo; provocar medo
Most common and widely understood
São Paulo
suscitar medo; instigar medo
Formal or journalistic usage
Rio de Janeiro
mexer com o medo; provocar medo
More colloquial variant
Portugal
despertar medo; fomentar medo
European Portuguese formulation

Related Idioms & Phrases

play on people's fears
fan the flames of fear
capitalize on fear
spread panic
incite hysteria
beat the drums of fear
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