dander up

Said of one who is 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.

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

get someone's dander up

and get someone's back up; get someone's hackles up; get someone's Irish up; put someone's back up

Fig. to make someone get angry. (Fixed order.) Now, don't get your dander up. Calm down. I insulted him and really got his hackles up. Bob had his Irish up all day yesterday. I don't know what was wrong. Now, now, don't get your back up. I didn't mean any harm.

See also: dander, get, up

get someone's back up

Also, get someone's dander up; put or set someone's back up . Make angry, as in Bill's arrogance really got my back up, or The foolish delays at the bank only put her back up. Get one's back up and get one's dander up mean "become angry," as in Martha is quick to get her dander up. The back in these phrases alludes to a cat arching its back when annoyed, and put and set were the earliest verbs used in this idiom, dating from the 1700s; get is more often heard today. The origin of dander, used since the early 1800s, is disputed; a likely theory is that it comes from the Dutch donder, for "thunder." Also see get someone's goat; raise one's hackles.

get someone's back up

INFORMAL or

put someone's back up

BRITISH, INFORMAL

If someone or something gets your back up or puts your back up, they annoy you. What does get my back up is a girlfriend who gets jealous if someone else finds me attractive. I thought before I spoke again. The wrong question was going to get her back up. The appointment took the whole office by surprise and at first seemed to put people's backs up. Note: This expression may refer to the way cats raise their backs when they are angry.

get someone's dander up

OLD-FASHIONED

If someone or something gets your dander up, they make you feel very angry. I read the article and have to admit, it really got my dander up. Note: The origin of the word `dander' is unknown.

See also: dander, get, up

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

get someone's back up

make someone annoyed or angry.

This phrase developed as an allusion to the way a cat arches its back when it is angry or threatened.

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

get someone's dander up, to

To make someone very angry. The origin of this term is disputed. Most likely “dander” comes from the Dutch donder, for “thunder,” but there are numerous other theories. The earliest reference in print dates from 1830, in Seba Smith’s Letters of Major Jack Downing: “When a Quaker gets his dander up it’s like a Northwester.” Also see get someone's back up.

dander up

To be angry. “Dander” is the particles of hair that break off an animal's hair (humans call it “dandruff” when it happens to us). “To get your dander up” calls to mind the hair that stands up on the nape of an enraged dog's neck. Another meaning of the word is the ferment used in making molasses; getting your dander up in that context suggests that your anger is rising the way yeast or any other leavening or fermenting agent does.