Definition

1. Noun (plural):
   • The hairs or feathers on the back of an animal's neck that rise when it is angry or alarmed: This is the primary, literal meaning, often referring to the erectile hairs on a dog's neck or a bird's neck feathers.
   • A state of anger, irritation, or defensive readiness: This is a figurative extension, describing a person's emotional state of being provoked or antagonized.

Usage Examples

• Noun (literal):

  • The dog's hackles rose when it saw the stranger approaching.
  • The rooster's bright red hackles were puffed out in display.

• Noun (figurative):

  • His insensitive comments raised my hackles immediately.
  • The new policy is sure to raise hackles among the staff.

Advanced Usage

• "To raise someone's hackles": To cause someone to become angry, defensive, or irritated.
  • The politician's evasive answer raised the hackles of the journalists.
• "With one's hackles up": In a state of anger, defensiveness, or readiness for a fight.
  • She went into the meeting with her hackles up, expecting an argument.

Variants and Related Words

• Hackle (singular, noun): Less commonly used on its own; typically refers to a single feather or hair, or a tool for combing flax or hemp.
• Hackled (adjective): Having hackles; often used in ornithology (e.g., a hackled feather).

Synonyms

• Dander (in the idiom "get one's dander up"): Anger, temper.
• Bristles: To show irritation or anger (verb).
• Ire: Anger, wrath (noun).

Related Idioms

• "Get one's hackles up": To become angry or defensive. This is synonymous with "have one's hackles up" or "raise one's hackles."
  • He gets his hackles up whenever someone criticizes his work.
• "Make one's hackles rise": To cause someone to become angry or antagonized.
  • Her arrogant tone made my hackles rise.

Noun

1. a feeling of anger and animosity
   • having one's hackles or dander up