get (one's) hackles up

get (one's) hackles up

To become or cause to become angry, hostile, defensive, or irritable. John got his hackles up when his parents brought up the subject of college. Election season always gets my dad's hackles up. You're not in trouble or anything, so please don't get your hackles up. I'm just looking for information.

See also: get, hackle, up

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

get (one's) hackles up

To be extremely insulted or irritated.

See also: get, hackle, up

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.