To make trouble generally. The phrase admits of variation. See Notes and Queries, 10 S. xi. 65, 137, 237, on RAISE HAMLET.
1803. The Federalists during their administration, played the Devil and burnt down two public offices, and now they are all in a fever because the Republicans don’t raise Hell and burn the city.—The Balance, Feb. 1, p. 59: from the Phœnix, Providence.
1840. Why have we every reason to believe that Adam and Eve were both rowdies? Because Eve raised old Harry, and they both raised Cain.—Daily Pennant, St. Louis, May 2.
1840. Why were our first parents like sugar planters? Because they raised Cain.—Cincinn. Times, May.
1848. They will feel that they have been raising Cain and breaking things.—Dow, Jun., ‘Patent Sermons,’ i. 247.
1852. Singing and whistling, and making grimaces at herself in the looking-glass; in short, as Miss Ophelia phrased it, [Topsy was] “raising Cain” generally.—Mrs. Stowe, ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin,’ ch. xx. (N.E.D.)
1862. It would raise old Ned if, when some future Mrs. Lampertz comes on the stage, she were to find Katarine here, asserting prior claims.—Knick. Mag., lix. 458 (May).
1862. Had Adam been a modern, there would have been a hired girl in Paradise, to look after little Abel, and raise Cain.—Rocky Mountain News, Denver, June 28.
1869. Ef I don’t work hard enough now, I’d like to know, without havin’ a boy raound raisin’ gineral Cain.—Mrs. Stowe, ‘Oldtown Folks,’ ch 10.
1869. I expect Susy’s boys ’ll be raising Cain round the house.—Id., ch. 20.
1888. The suggestion has raised merry Cain in the bosoms of the indignant saleswomen.—Long Branch News, April 7 (Farmer).
1901. For the first few days out of St. Thomas the Yorktown raised Cain, because she had a heavy following sea which made her roll very badly.—R. D. Evans, ‘A Sailor’s Log,’ p. 245.
