Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

get a rise out of

Idioms  

  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.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But whether that’s a contributing factor or not, it does seem he’s getting more frantic to do whatever it takes to get a rise out of people.

From Salon • Dec. 5, 2025

When we would show the movie, the scene would always get a rise out of people.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2025

He even managed to get a rise out of mild-mannered Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, who recently kicked him out of the chamber for heckling.

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2025

“You can see that phrase and easily recognize that someone’s trying to get a rise out of you by using it,” Pitcavage said.

From Washington Post • Feb. 28, 2023

My mom has always said you just ignore mean people because they are only trying to get a rise out of you.

From "Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.