start something

"You'd better keep those hands up," he went on quickly, as he saw the two rascals making a move as if to start something.

"Oh, we'll start something, leave it to us," said Roly Poly.

It would be approximate, of course, but it would give us a start—something more definite than we have now.

To tell the truth, I was spoiling for a fight and I half wished they would start something.

"You go awn and start something—and you'll wisht you hadn't," they heard him croak from the big gate, and chuckled over his wrath.