raise the dead
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To raise one's voice to a very high level; to be noisy or disruptive.
Register: derogatory, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Near-synonyms: raise hell, raise Cain
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “raise the dead” mean?
To raise one's voice to a very high level; to be noisy or disruptive.
Is “raise the dead” formal or informal?
raise the dead is generally derogatory, slang.