Phrase guide

raise Cain

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

Synonym of raise hell.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Those damned boys have been out drinking and raising Cain again tonight.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: raise hell

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Cain, the biblical son of Adam and Eve, the first murderer. The expression implies raising him from the dead and thus bringing or returning that evil to Earth.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: вдигам скандал (vdigam skandal) — to cause trouble
  • German: Ärger machen — to cause trouble
  • German: Streit anzetteln — to cause trouble
  • Italian: fare il diavolo a quattro — to cause trouble
  • Russian: подня́ть шу́м (podnjátʹ šúm) — to cause trouble
  • Russian: буя́нить (bujánitʹ) — to cause trouble
  • Spanish: armar la de san Quintín — to cause trouble