get up on its hind legs

get up on its hind legs

Of a four-legged animal, to stand on its back legs. If you're trying to teach the dog to get up on its hind legs, why don't you use treats as an incentive?
See also: get, hind, leg, on, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

get up on one's hind legs

Fig. to get angry and assertive. (Alludes to the action of a horse when it is excited or frightened.) She got up on her hind legs and told them all to go to blazes. She has a tendency to get up on her hind legs and tell people off.
See also: get, hind, leg, on, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • get up on hind legs
  • rear up
  • feel your legs
  • feel (one's) legs
  • be like jelly
  • be/feel like jelly
  • jelly
  • feel like jelly
  • pillars to the temple
  • on your hind legs