When we want to convey the idea that someone or something has caused a commotion, excitement, or change, we often use the phrase "stirred things up". However, there are plenty of other ways to express this concept with different words and phrases. Some more synonyms for "stirred things up" might include "shaken things up", "disrupted the status quo", "caused a stir", "upset the applecart", "rocked the boat", "ruffled feathers", "set things in motion", or "set tongues wagging". Each of these phrases carries a slightly different connotation, but can all be used to describe situations or individuals who have had a significant impact on the world around them.