PhrasesHub

Raise Cain

    Definitions

      • cause trouble or chaos
        To behave in a wild or disruptive manner, often leading to disorder or confusion

      • complain loudly or angrily
        To express dissatisfaction or frustration in a loud and forceful manner

    Examples of Raise Cain

    • The rowdy children were causing a scene in the grocery store, raising quite a bit of Cain.

      To "raise Cain" is to cause a loud commotion or disturbance. In this case, the children were behaving loudly and disruptively, causing other shoppers to notice and possibly complain.

    • During his performance, the rock star encouraged the audience to raise Cain and let loose.

      Here, "raising Cain" is used metaphorically to mean to create a lot of energy, excitement, and noise. The singer wants the crowd to get rowdy and have a great time at the concert.

    • The party-goers went all out, drinking and dancing until the wee hours, really raising Cain.

      This example shows a more extreme version of the idiom. The group of people partying excessively is being described as causing a very loud and chaotic scene.

    • The baby was crying non-stop, leaving her parents exhausted and raising Cain early in the morning.

      In this final example, "raising Cain" is used to indicate a negative situation - in this case, a baby crying loudly and disruptively, causing her parents to deal with a difficult and tiring situation.

    • The wild party thrown by the fraternity last weekend really raised Cain. The police had to be called several times to deal with the noise and rowdy behavior.

      To "raise Cain" means to create a loud and chaotic scene. In this example, the party thrown by the fraternity was so loud and disruptive that the police had to be called multiple times to deal with it.

    • After his teams lost yet another game, the frustrated coach screamed at the referees and raised Cain on the sidelines.

      This example shows how the phrase "raise Cain" can be used to describe a person's behavior. In this case, the coach became so angry after his team lost that he screamed at the referees and made a scene on the sidelines.

    • The children's birthday party was so loud that the neighbors complained and accused the parents of raising Cain.

      In this example, the phrase "raising Cain" can be used to describe an activity that is causing a disturbance and annoying others. In this case, the birthday party was so loud that the neighbors became annoyed and accused the parents of creating a lot of noise and causing a disturbance.

    • The college student's apartment parties were legendary for raising Cain. The campus police were called frequently to deal with the noise and trouble at these events.

      This final example shows how the phrase "raising Cain" can be used to describe a recurring or habitual behavior. In this case, the college student's parties were notorious for creating a lot of noise and causing trouble, leading to frequent visits by the campus police.


    Conclusion

    "Raise Cain" is an idiom that can be used to describe causing trouble or chaos, or complaining loudly and angrily. It is often used to convey a sense of disruption or frustration in a situation.

    In the first meaning, "raise Cain" is used to describe someone's behavior that leads to disorder or confusion. It can be used to caution against engaging in disruptive actions or to describe someone who is behaving in a wild or unruly manner.

    In the second meaning, "raise Cain" is used to express dissatisfaction or frustration in a forceful and vocal manner. It can be used to describe someone who is complaining loudly and angrily about a situation or a particular issue.

    Overall, "raise Cain" is a versatile idiom that can be used to convey various forms of troublemaking or loud complaining.

    Origin of "Raise Cain"

    The origin of the idiom "raise Cain" is thought to come from the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically the story of Cain and Abel. In the biblical story, Cain is known for causing trouble and chaos by committing the first murder. The phrase "raise Cain" is believed to have originated from this association with disruptive and troublesome behavior.

    Another possible origin of the idiom is from the American frontier era, where "Cain" was used as a euphemism for the devil or evil. To "raise Cain" would then mean to cause trouble or chaos in a way that was associated with the devil.

    Overall, the idiom "raise Cain" likely originated from biblical and cultural references to troublemaking and chaos. Its usage has evolved over time to convey the idea of causing disruption or expressing frustration in a forceful manner.