put (one's) back up

put (one's) back up

To be or become angry, hostile, defensive, defiant, or irritable, or to instill such a feeling in someone else. John put his back up when his parents brought up the subject of college. Election season always puts my dad's back up.
See also: back, put, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

get/put somebody’s ˈback up

make somebody annoyed: His silly remarks always get her back up.
This idiom refers to the way cats arch their backs when they are angry.
See also: back, get, put, up
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • set (one's) back 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
  • get hackles up