He has earned a reputation for making waves during political campaigns.

making 是动词 make 的现在分词形式,waves 是 wave 的复数形式,二者构成固定短语 make waves。 make waves 字面看似"制造波浪",实际是比喻用法,指通过提出尖锐问题或公开批评来制造麻烦、引起争议,带有挑战现状、惹人不快的意味。