dander up

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.
See also: dander, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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.
See also: dander, up
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • dander
  • get (one's) dander up
  • get dander up
  • get someone's dander up
  • get your dander up
  • gotten
  • get a rise from
  • get a rise out of
  • get a rise out of (one)
  • get a rise out of someone
References in classic literature
He 'pears to know just how long he can torment me before I get my dander up, and he knows if he can make out to put me off for a minute or make me laugh, it's all down again and I can't hit him a lick.
He was a prominent opponent of Socialism, which he said would break up the home!" The "Appeal" had what it called its "Army," about thirty thousand of the faithful, who did things for it; and it was always exhorting the "Army" to keep its dander up, and occasionally encouraging it with a prize competition, for anything from a gold watch to a private yacht or an eighty-acre farm.
Furthermore, while I have my dander up, must we also have to contend with the immediate appearance on to the field of play, of the production line WAGs and their kids before the final whistle has even been blown?
When these three music giants get their dander up ...
In recent weeks, they've been getting their dander up over Kuster votes that they compare unfavorably with her Dem counterpart in the 1st C.D., Carol Shea-Porter.
"We had to get bumped and knocked about before we got our dander up and that is a mental thing.
100 miles) to raise money for a cancer appeal - with only a helicopter dropping the occasional Ginster's to help keep his dander up.
But what does get my dander up is the size of Ferguson and McGregor's bar bill, which it seems they paid without a blink.
But scrutinising the reasons for this, one item in particular got my dander up: pounds 160,000 for two newfly-posting and graffiti-busting squads.
Standard Grade success figures will no doubt spark debate, and the first ones to get their dander up will be Scots parents.
LaDuke and publishers have combined 40 of her most important speeches, articles and fiction excerpts in this collection designed to get your blood boiling and your dander up. Nader writes the foreword and in it challenges you to "savor, digest, reflect, and see if you can contain your moral indignation ...
He still seemed to enjoy trying to get my dander up, and even though I no longer rose to them, his remarks hurt.
If there is anything which gets my dander up, it's being called a liar - Feminist Germaine Greer.
But they got Soutif's dander up to the point where he perversely wishes to deny his countryman the claims I made for his international stature.
Have pet allergies got your dander up? If the answer is "ahhhh-choo," you can take comfort you are not alone.