rattle (one's) cage

rattle (one's) cage

To purposefully anger, upset, or unnerve one, especially to affect their performance or undermine their credibility. He makes a point of taunting his opponents before each match in order to rattle their cage. The audience member asked a number of embarrassing questions about her past in an obvious attempt to rattle her cage.
See also: cage, rattle
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

rattle someone's cage

If you rattle someone's cage, you do or say something that upsets or annoys them. One thing I've learnt as an editor is that you can't create a truly superb magazine without rattling someone's cage. I don't rattle their cages and they don't rattle mine.
See also: cage, rattle
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

rattle someone's cage

make someone feel angry or annoyed, usually deliberately. informal
A humorous comparison is implied between the person annoyed in this way and a dangerous animal taunted by spectators outside its cage.
See also: cage, rattle
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌrattle somebody’s ˈcage

(informal) annoy somebody: Who’s rattled his cage? OPPOSITE: smooth (somebody’s) ruffled feathers
See also: cage, rattle
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • rattle somebody's cage
  • rattle someone's cage
  • rattling
  • jump up and down
  • express (one's) anger
  • express anger
  • street cred
  • squig out
  • bristle with anger
  • smoke and mirrors