Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
get one's hackles up
idiom
/ɡɛt wʌnz ˈhækəlz ʌp/
Definition
To become angry, defensive, or agitated.
Examples
- When he made that comment about her work, it really got her hackles up.
- She tends to get her hackles up whenever someone criticizes her decisions.
- The unfair treatment of the staff got everyone’s hackles up.
Meaning
This phrase is often used to describe a reaction to something that provokes irritation or prompts a heightened emotional response.
Synonyms
- become defensive
- get angry
- become agitated
