Meaning of upset the natives | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see upset, native.
2. To offend local sensibilities.

Examples

“I have⟳ learned the most about culture when I have⟳ been involved as a consultant in trying to help⟳ an organization deal⟳ with specific issues on which it needed some help⟳. The issue⟳ here is that in the normal flow⟳ of things cultural data are unintentionally concealed; the "natives" are not conscious of what it is they take⟳ for granted. The researcher then has the problem of how to observe⟳ phenomena that occur⟳ at that level without, at the same time, upsetting the natives by delving into areas that may be defined by them as private, or even unwittingly intervening in those cultures by raising questions that the natives may never have⟳ thought about.”

“Paolo had decided he needed a more mellow persona so as not to upset⟳ the natives, but one still different enough to fascinate them. So he quit⟳ being a skater and became a Deadhead.”

“How on earth Jacqueline brought herself to leave⟳ the poor little mite I'll never know⟳, but she did, and it seems her and Maurice are settling in nicely over there—if you call⟳ upsetting the natives settling in, which sounds about right for our Jack.”

CEFR level