get the wind up (one)
To make someone very anxious, upset, or frightened. If they keep putting pressure on you, we'll threaten them with legal action—that should get the wind up them! Carrie gets the wind up her every time she has to wait for medical test results. I try to calm her down, but nothing I say helps. Would you stop telling the kids ghost stories? You're going to get the wind up them before bedtime!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.