get hackles up
get (one's) hackles up
To become or cause to become angry, hostile, defensive, or irritable. John got his hackles up when his parents brought up the subject of college. Election season always gets my dad's hackles up.
See also: get, hackle, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
get (one's) hackles up
To be extremely insulted or irritated.
See also: get, hackle, up
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- get (one's) hackles up
- get (one's) back up
- get back up
- get someone's back up
- get/put somebody's back up
- have (one's) back up
- have back up
- Irish
- get (one's) Irish up
- addict