get one's back up

idiom
UK: /ˌɡet wʌnz ˈbæk ʌp/
US: /ˌɡet wʌnz ˈbæk ʌp/

  1. To become angry or annoyed, often because you feel you have been criticized or challenged.

    1. He did get his back up when I asked about his past.
    2. She tends to get her back up whenever someone questions her decisions, even if it's constructive.

Synonyms

take offense bristle resent
get one's back up phrasal-verb

  1. To react defensively or aggressively.

    1. Don't get your back up, I'm just trying to help.
    2. I was only suggesting a different approach; there's no need to get your back up about it.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "get one's back up" is /ˌɡet wʌnz ˈbæk ʌp/ in British English and /ˌɡet wʌnz ˈbæk ʌp/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "get one's back up": take offense, bristle, resent.

Example usage of "get one's back up": "He did get his back up when I asked about his past.". More examples on the page.