What is the correct way to express this idiomatic expression? -- Stir the pot --

My goal is to say something like "she stirs the pot even more by inviting this person to her house."

I would imagine I could get away with saying something like,

Ella complica la circumstancia más por invitar a esta persona a su casa.

but that doesn't sit well with me as a good translation. In English, "stir the pot" has a distinct meaning and a distinct way of expressing the complications such that I wouldn't even have to mention the situation at all.

  • BTW, "por invitar" does not seem right to me here, I'd prefer "al invitar" or "invitando" – leonbloy Apr 6 '13 at 2:55
  • "revolver la olla" and "revolver el estofado" were quite common in Argentina, but not much used nowadays – Dr. belisarius Apr 6 '13 at 18:55
  • Does that not literally mean to stir the pot though? – dockeryZ Apr 8 '13 at 16:42

I didn't know that idiom in English, but from what I see, there are some expressions that can fit. They have slightly different meanings:

  • Echar leña al fuego: do or say something to worsen a situation
  • Echar sal en la herida: do or say something that increases somebody's pain (physical or emotional)
  • Sacar los trapos sucios: make public someone else's faults
  • Revolver la mierda: bring back an issue that is settled

Ok, I have came to the conclusion after searching and searching and asking people I know that

Empeorar la situación

is the closest I am going to get. But for educations sake, feel free to provide more solutions.... If there is any way possible to avoid the word situación, I would greatly appreciate it.


In México I use this expression: “Ella trata de amarrar navajas al invitarlo(la) a su casa”.

And in a higly friendly informal way I would say: “Ella le echa limón a la herida al invitarlo(la) a su casa”.

  • By the way, is "stir the pot" a British expression? – ArturoTena Apr 6 '13 at 9:37
  • That comment should probably belong on the question, not your answer. But it is a somewhat common phrase in American English. I don't know if it's used in British English or not. – Flimzy Apr 7 '13 at 2:00

Se me ocurre:

Puso las cosas peor invitando a esa persona a su casa.

Ella puso las cosas todavía peor al invitarlo a su casa.

Ella lo complicó todo mas ...

Se acabó de complicar invitándolo a casa.

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