get (someone's) hackles up



get (someone's) hackles up

To become or cause to become angry, hostile, defensive, or irritable. John got his hackles up when his parents brought up the subject of college. Election season always gets my dad's hackles up.
See also: get, hackle, up

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Marinda-English
MetteME-de (Danish)Danish, Norwegian
Chetana-Indian, Marathi, Hindi
Balboa[bæl'bəuə]
HeinHIENDutch
Ozias-Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek