put (one's/someone's) back up



Like this video? Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day!

put (one's/someone's) back up

To be or become angry, hostile, defensive, defiant, or irritable, or to instill such a feeling in someone else. John put his back up when his parents brought up the subject of college. Election season always puts my dad's back up.
See also: back, put, up

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
BarbaraBAHR-bər-ə (English), BAHR-brə (English), BAHR-bah-rah (German), bahr-BAH-rah (Polish)English, Italian, French, German, Polish, Hungarian, Slovene, Croatian, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian,
Lauretta-Italian
Georgenejawr-JEEN, JAWR-jeenEnglish
Kynthia-Greek Mythology
JordynJAWR-dinEnglish (Modern)
Dianedee-AHN (French), die-AN (English)French, English