put nose out of joint

put (one's) nose out of joint

To upset or irritate one, usually through actions or words. Well, something put my mother's nose out of joint—what exactly did you say to her?

See also: joint, nose, of, out, put

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

put someone's nose out of joint

Fig. to make someone resentful. What's wrong with Jill? What put her nose out of joint? Don't put your nose out of joint. I didn't mean anything by what I said.

See also: joint, nose, of, out, put

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.