to get someone's back up

Examples

• All

• No offense, Odd Thomas, but I can't think of anybody... who could come in here right now and not get my back up.

  Odd Thomas (2013)

• Yeah, okay, get her back up.

  The Trust (2016)

• Well what has he got his back up about?

  The Intruder (1962)

• Look, I didn't mean to get your back up.

  Cremaster 3 (2002)

• It is this aim, of course, that gets everyone's back up.

  Academic text (1998)

• He didn't mean to get someone's back up, but his comments were very critical.

• Her sarcasm is known to get people's backs up during meetings.

• Making that joke really got my father's back up because he took it personally.

Synonyms

D

to drive (someone) crazy

vsto get someone's back up

• Informal

271 3.9

Make someone very annoyed or upset

is more about causing anger or defensiveness through criticism than general frustration

G

to get to

vsto get someone's back up

• Informal

215 6.3

Annoy or upset someone gradually

provokes stronger anger or defensiveness especially after criticism or provocation

D

to drive someone crazy

vsto get someone's back up

• Informal

158 3.2

Make someone very annoyed or upset

tends to cause anger or defensive reaction via criticism rather than extreme upset

P

to provoke

vsto get someone's back up

144 3.6

Annoy someone again and again to make them react

can be a single act causing anger or defensiveness through criticism

R

to rile

vsto get someone's back up

63 6.9

Make someone annoyed, often by small things

causes stronger anger or defensive reaction from criticism or provocation

S

to stir up

vsto get someone's back up

48 4.8

To make people feel strong emotions like anger or fear

is narrower focusing on anger or defensive responses from criticism

A

to antagonize

vsto get someone's back up

• US

31 7.6

To make someone angry or unfriendly

aims at causing anger or defensive response especially via criticism

G

to get at

vsto get someone's back up

• Informal

25 7.1

To annoy someone with small repeated actions

is more focused on causing defensive anger through criticism than on small annoyances

G

to get under one's skin

vsto get someone's back up

• Informal

25 7.2

To annoy someone again and again so they feel bothered

creates anger or defensiveness often from criticism rather than just persistent irritation

G

to get a rise out of

vsto get someone's back up

• Informal

8 6.8

Make someone angry or annoyed on purpose by teasing them

focuses on causing defensive anger through criticism rather than mere reaction

G

to get on someone's nerves

vsto get someone's back up

• Informal

7 4.9

To bother someone again and again until they feel angry

causes anger or defensive reactions usually through criticism rather than simple annoyance

G

to get under someone's skin

vsto get someone's back up

• Informal

4 7.4

To annoy someone a lot by small things another person does

causes anger or defensive response especially through criticism or provocation

P

to pique

vsto get someone's back up

2 8.2

To offend someone and make them feel annoyed or hurt

triggers anger or defensive reaction mainly through criticism or provocation

P

to push someone's buttons

vsto get someone's back up

• Informal

1 7.1

To do or say something on purpose to annoy someone

often leads to anger or defensiveness through criticism rather than targeted provocation

G

to get one's dander up

vsto get someone's back up

• Informal

1 9.1

To make someone angry

focuses on causing defensive anger specifically through criticism or provocation

R

to raise hackles

vsto get someone's back up

1 7.9

To make someone angry or upset

causes defensive anger particularly after criticism or provoking remarks

G

to give someone the shits

vsto get someone's back up

• Offensive

1 9.9

To make someone very annoyed or angry

is often used for causing anger or defensiveness from criticism rather than general irritation

Y

to yank someone's chain

vsto get someone's back up

• Informal

1 8.7

Tease someone to make them react

provokes annoyance via criticism or provocation rather than playful teasing

G

to give (someone) the shits

vsto get someone's back up

• Offensive

1 9.9

To make someone very angry or upset

focuses more on causing defensiveness via criticism than on general upset

D

to do someone's head in

vsto get someone's back up

• UK

1 9.8

To make someone feel very annoyed or upset

focuses on causing anger or defensive reactions rather than confusion or mental distress

P

to put someone's back up

vsto get someone's back up

• UK

7.7

To make someone angry or ready to argue

has identical meaning and no difference in sense

P

to put up someone's back

vsto get someone's back up

• UK

8.9

To annoy someone so they become defensive

has identical meaning and no difference in sense

G

to get someone's goat

vsto get someone's back up

• Informal

8.4

To annoy someone or make them angry

causes anger or defensive response often from criticism or provocation

G

to give the shits

vsto get someone's back up

• Offensive

9.9

To make someone feel worried, angry, or very annoyed

is less vulgar and focuses on anger or defensiveness from criticism

G

to get on someone's wick

vsto get someone's back up

• UK

9.9

To annoy someone by doing the same small things again and again

is a more general term for causing anger or defensiveness rather than regional phrasing

G

to get one's monkey up

vsto get someone's back up

• Informal

9.9

To become angry or upset

describes causing anger or defensive reaction in another person rather than becoming angry

Antonyms

C

to calm down

• Informal

594 1.4

To become less angry, excited, or upset

How Annoying

to enrage

68 3.7

to infuriate

46 5.0

to get someone's back up

• UK

1 7.9

to irritate

78 2.9

to annoy

246 1.0

to bother me

449 2.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology