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raise hackles

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raise your hackles

to annoy someone Jim could raise her hackles quickly, but she enjoyed being with him anyway.

Related vocabulary: make your hair stand on end

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of hackles (the hairs on the back of a dog's neck that stick up when the dog fears something)

See also: hackle, raise

raise (somebody's) hackles

  also make (somebody's) hackles rise

to annoy someone

Usage notes: Hackles are the hairs on the back of a dog's neck which stand up when it is angry.

The politician's frank interview may have raised hackles in his party. The movie's pro-war message made many people's hackles rise.

See also: hackle, raise