get your dander up

get (one's) dander up

To become annoyed or angry. Don't get your dander up with me—I'm just trying have a conversation here. I know I got my dander up a bit last night, so I understand why you're avoiding me. He knew I was nervous about asking Mary out, so it really got my dander up when he strolled on by and started teasing me about it.

See also: dander, get, up

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

get your dander up

lose your temper; become angry.

The sense of dander in this originally US expression is uncertain, as neither dandruff nor dunder (meaning ‘the ferment of molasses’) seems entirely plausible.

See also: dander, get, up

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017