get (one's) claws out



get (one's) claws out

1. Literally, of an animal, to prepare for an attack or for defense by protracting or displaying its claws. I hate my neighbor's cat, it always gets its claws out when I go near it.
2. By extension, to become particularly aggressive, especially in preparation for a confrontation. (Most often said of a woman.) Jenny had her claws out after she found out Mary had been spreading rumors about her in school.
See also: claw, get, out

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Artemiy-Russian
LinusLIE-nəs (English), LEE-nuws (German, Swedish)Greek Mythology (Latinized), Ancient Greek (Latinized), German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Gioelejo-EL-eItalian
Symeon-Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin
Sigihard-Ancient Germanic
Briggs[brigz]