PhrasesHub

Get your goat

    Definitions

      • annoy or irritate someone
        To cause frustration or anger in someone through words, actions, or behaviors, typically in a deliberate or calculated manner.

      • steal something
        To take something without permission or by deceit, often causing distress or inconvenience to the rightful owner.

    Examples of Get your goat

    • The constant criticism from my boss really gets my goat.

      This idiom means that the speaker becomes irritated or angry when faced with repeated criticism or negative comments. It comes from the idea that when someone annoys or irritates you, you might want to grab their goat as a way of releasing your frustration. However, since grabbing someone's goat is not a practical solution, the expression "get your goat" is used figuratively to mean causing annoyance or irritation.

    • The opponent's trash talking during the game really got under my skin and got my goat.

      This idiom highlights the impact that negative comments, in this case, from an opponent during a game, can have on the speaker's emotions. It is used to describe the feeling of irritation or anger that a person may experience when someone's words or actions cause offense.

    • I hate it when my siblings tease me about my height, it really gets my goat.

      This idiom explains the emotional response that some people have when faced with insults or teasing by others. It describes the feelings that arise when a person is insulted or ridiculed, especially if they are sensitive about a particular issue.

    • The long wait in line at the grocery store really got my goat today.

      This idiom is used to describe the feeling of frustration or annoyance that some people experience when they are forced to wait for an extended period of time. It highlights the impact that such situations can have on a person's emotions and describes the feelings of frustration and irritation that they may experience.

    • Bob's constant criticism and nagging really get your goat.

      The phrase "get your goat" means to irritate or annoy someone severely. In this example, the speaker is saying that Bob's criticism and nagging really irritates or annoys the person being spoken to.

    • After dealing with a thousand paperwork, the boss finally lost his temper and started cursing, getting everyone's goat.

      The phrase "get your goat" is often used to describe a situation where many people are irritated or annoyed at once. In this case, the boss's sudden outburst has irritated or annoyed everyone around him.

    • Mark is a notorious goat-getter. He always manages to say or do something that irritates his co-workers.

      The phrase "goat-getter" is a slang term for someone who has the ability to irritate or annoy others easily. In this example, the speaker is saying that Mark is someone who irritates or annoys others very easily.

    • After the team's devastating loss, the coach's angry outburst at the players got everyone's goat.

      The phrase "get your goat" is often used to describe a situation where many people are irritated or annoyed at once. In this case, the coach's angry outburst at the players has irritated or annoyed everyone around him. This idiom is commonly used in sports, where players or coaches can easily get under each other's skin.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "get your goat" is typically used to express annoyance or irritation towards someone. It can also refer to stealing something from someone, causing them distress and inconvenience. In both cases, the idiom implies a sense of causing harm or agitation to the person in question.

    Origin of "Get your goat"

    The origin of this idiom is uncertain, but there are a few possible explanations. One theory suggests that it comes from horse racing, where goats were often used as a calming companion for high-strung racehorses. If someone wanted to sabotage a horse's performance, they would try to "get their goat" and cause the horse to become agitated and perform poorly.

    Another theory links the idiom to farming, where goats were known to be easily agitated and difficult to control. If someone wanted to cause mischief or chaos, they would "get someone's goat" and stir up trouble.

    Regardless of its origin, the idiom is now commonly used in everyday language to express frustration or annoyance towards someone or to describe the act of stealing something. It has evolved to become a versatile idiom that is easily understood and used in various contexts.