rile up

rile up

To cause someone or some group to become particularly excited and animated, especially in an angry or irritated manner. A noun or pronoun can be used between "rile" and "up." Seeing that kind of injustice on the news always riles me up to no end. The politician has a knack for riling up his rallies with rhetoric that demeans and vilifies his opponents. The boss's comments really riled Sarah up.
See also: rile, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

rile someone up

to get someone excited and angry. He yelled at them and riled them up. They left quite angry. He riles up everyone he talks to.
See also: rile, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • not do (someone or oneself) any favors
  • (Is) this taken?
  • interpret for
  • interpret for (someone)
  • ask back
  • identify with
  • angle
  • angling
  • adapt (something) to (something)
  • adapt to
References in periodicals archive
Angus, 55, fought to get the movie released in Scottish cinemas to "rile up" Nationalist support but insists he only wants a peaceful move towards independence.
Iwantnew Braveheart filmtospark afinalpush forfreedom; ACTOR TELLS OF HOPES FOR ROBERT THE BRUCE EPIC Proud Scot Angus Macfadyen achieved a lifelong dream by finally getting to make historical drama and hopes it will have massive impact
PPP may rile up a storm with its passionate speeches in the National Assembly, and PML-N MPAs may be giving the government a hard time in the Punjab assembly, yet with the mysterious silence of the two people who were supposed to be the face of the resistance- Maryam and Nawaz Sharif, the opposition effort seems lacklustre.
The Curious Silence
A lawmaker urged Public Attorney's Office (PAO) and its chief Persida Rueda-Acosta not to 'rile up emotions' of Dengvaxia victims and their families as the government finds ways to address issues hounding the Aquino administration's Dengvaxia program.
PAO told not to rile up emotions of Dengvaxia victims, kin
He'd probably rile up the worst if you told him he couldn't skateboard.
Dan Murphy: "I give 'em the Houdini"
It was in relation to gay men what the old blood libel was in relation to Jews: a dirty, dishonest fiction, but one with undeniable power to rile up fear and loathing.
Come out, father. (last word)
Cricket handlers rile up their losing pugilists by apparently punishing them--shaking the insects and tossing them into the air 20 to 40 times.
Flight puts the fight back into crickets