sow the seeds of
US /soʊ ðə siːdz əv/
UK /soʊ ðə siːdz əv/

1.
播下种子, 埋下祸根
to do something that will cause a particular result or situation to happen in the future
:
•
His early experiments helped to sow the seeds of modern genetics.
他的早期实验为现代遗传学播下了种子。
•
The government's policies could sow the seeds of discontent among the population.
政府的政策可能会在民众中播下不满的种子。