make someone's hackles rise

make (someone's) hackles rise

To greatly irritate, annoy, or aggravate someone. The disrespect he showed our professor during class made my hackles rise so badly that I had to go take a walk to calm down. The politician has a gift for making his opponents' hackles rise during debates.

See also: hackle, make, rise

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

make someone's hackles rise

make someone angry or indignant.

Hackles are the long feathers on the neck of a fighting cock or the hairs on the top of a dog's neck, which are raised when the animal is angry or excited.

See also: hackle, make, rise

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017