get a rise out of

1. Elicit an angry or irritated reaction, as in His teasing always got a rise out of her. This expression alludes to the angler's dropping a fly in a likely spot in the hope that a fish will rise to this bait.

Related Words

• annoy 
• arouse 
• displease 
• excite 
• gall 
• galvanize 
• ignite 
• incense 
• irk 
• irritate 
• kindle 
• offend 
• rile 
• stimulate 
• whet