hornets' nest

WordNet-Online
Free dictionary and thesaurus of English. Definitions, synonyms, antonyms and more...
Hint: double-click any word to get it searched!

Noun hornets' nest has 2 senses

hornet's nest, hornets' nest - a highly contentious or hazardous situation; "talk of invading Iraq stirred up a political hornets' nest"
--₁ is a kind of situation
wasp's nest, wasps' nest, hornet's nest, hornets' nest - habitation for wasps or hornets
--₂ is a kind of nidus