hackles

British  

/ ˈhækəlz /

plural noun

1. the hairs on the back of the neck and the back of a dog, cat, etc, which rise when the animal is angry or afraid

2. anger or resentment (esp in the phrases get one's hackles up, make one's hackles rise )

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hackles Idioms  

1. see raise someone's hackles.

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Explanation

If that mean-looking doggie has his back arched, teeth bared and the hairs on the back of his neck are standing up straight, walk away slowly. You've raised his hackles, or instilled a feeling of anger. In the technical sense, hackles are the hairs or feathers that grow right at the back of an animal's neck. You know, the things that spike up on a scared cat or angry rooster. But in the human world, raising someone's hackles means you've made them boiling mad or super annoyed. For example, spitting spit balls while the teacher isn't looking is sure to raise her hackles. And land you in detention.

Example Sentences

Such a move would raise hackles in Turkey, which has fought a decades-long bloody conflict with the Kurdish militant group PKK, which it is now seeking to end.

From Barron's • Mar. 7, 2026

Brennan began to ask if Ross was back on the street and working in Minneapolis when Noem got her hackles up.

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2026

“If I were going to tell you one thing that really gets my hackles up, it’s a persistent weak layer,” said Mace, the avalanche forecaster.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2025

Feline lovers in Kenya’s capital have been twitching over the threat of what is perceived as a “cat tax” - and any talk of tax in the East African nation raises the hackles.

From BBC • Aug. 1, 2024

His hackles were up and his left ear was split.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker