Get one's dander up

Definitions

• to become angry or agitated
  When someone becomes upset or irritated, often in response to something that has angered or provoked them.

• to provoke or irritate someone
  When someone purposefully tries to make someone else angry or riled up, often for their own entertainment or malicious intent.

Examples of Get one's dander up

• The teacher's words criticizing the student's performance got his dander up, and he stormed out of the classroom.

  This example shows how the criticisms of the teacher caused the student to become very angry and leave the classroom in a rage. The phrase "got his dander up" is used to describe this sudden and angry outburst.

• The opposing team's rude behavior towards our player during the game got her dander up, and she responded with fierce determination to win.

  In this example, the player's anger towards the opposing team's behavior resulted in her playing with a fierce determination to win. The phrase "got her dander up" describes the sudden and strong anger that the player felt towards the opposing team's behavior.

• The salesperson's pushy tactics resulted in the customer getting his dander up, and he refused to make any more purchases.

  This example shows how the salesperson's pushiness caused the customer to become angry and refuse to make any more purchases. The phrase "got his dander up" is used to describe the sudden and strong anger that the customer felt towards the salesperson's tactics.

• The project manager's harsh criticism of the team's work got everyone's dander up, and they stormed out of the meeting in protest.

  This example shows how the project manager's criticism caused everyone on the team to become angry and leave the meeting in protest. The phrase "got everyone's dander up" is used to describe the sudden and strong anger that the team felt towards the project manager's criticism.

• The teacher's strict feedback during the exam got some students' dander up, and they began arguing with her.

  When someone's emotions become deeply aroused, particularly in response to something that irritates or angers them, we say that their dander is up. In this example, the students' disagreement with the teacher arose when they felt unfairly criticized during the exam.

• The salesperson's aggressive pricing tactics got the competitor's dander up, and they responded by cutting their prices even lower.

  In this business context, when a competitor feels threatened by an opponent's strategy, especially a move that appears to provide an unfair advantage, their dander is up, and they are likely to retaliate in some form.

• The coach's criticism of the team's performance in the previous game got some players' dander up, and they came out stronger in the next game.

  In this sporting scenario, the expression implies that the players were initially upset or annoyed by the coach's criticism, but it also sparked a renewed sense of determination and focus, leading to a better showing in the subsequent game.

• The neighbor's loud music blasting late into the night repeatedly got the homeowner's dander up until he finally contacted the authorities.

  This instance represents a situation frustrating enough to drive someone to extreme measures, such as reporting an issue to the authorities or seeking legal action, as the homeowner was pushed beyond tolerance with the persistent loud music from the neighbor's house.

Conclusion

This idiom is typically used to describe someone becoming angry or agitated, either as a result of an external trigger or intentional provocation. It can also be used to warn against becoming too easily angered or to describe someone who is easily irritated.

Origin of "Get one's dander up"

The origin of this idiom is believed to come from the 1800s, when dander was a term used to describe the tiny particles of skin that are shed by animals. When these particles are disturbed, they can cause an allergic reaction in some people, leading to sneezing, itching, and irritation. Over time, the term "dander" came to be associated with agitation and irritation, and the phrase "get one's dander up" emerged as a way to describe someone becoming angry or agitated.

The use of this idiom has evolved over time, and it is now commonly used to describe any situation in which someone becomes upset or agitated, not just in response to an allergic reaction. It is also often used in a more playful or lighthearted manner, to describe someone who is intentionally trying to provoke or irritate others. Overall, the idiom "get one's dander up" is a colorful and expressive way to describe someone becoming angry or irritated.