(one's) back is up



(one's) back is up

One is angry, hostile, defensive, or irritable, often due to a particular cause. John's back is up now. You shouldn't have brought up the subject of college. It's election season, so my dad's back is up all the time.
See also: back, up

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Imam-Arabic
GraciaGRAH-thyah (Spanish), GRAH-syah (Latin American Spanish)Spanish
Teigue-Irish
Odovacaro-do-VAY-kər (English)Ancient Germanic
Lanre-Western African, Yoruba
Adedayo-Western African, Yoruba