get one's back up

idiom

: to become angry or annoyed and want to fight or argue
He gets his back up and becomes defensive whenever someone questions his work.

Dictionary Entries Near get one's back up

Cite this Entry

“Get one's back up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%20one%27s%20back%20up. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!