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
Koralia-Greek, Late Greek
Byung-Hobyung-hoKorean
Dan (3)DAHN (Swedish)Swedish, Danish, Norwegian
CarlyKAHR-leeEnglish
AimÉe-ME French
Yitzhak-Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew