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

When you’ve been friends for a long time, inevitably you’ve seen their hackles rise in certain situations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

It was supposed to be published in 2023, the culmination of a direct-democracy initiative that immediately raised the hackles of agriculture lobbies that accused the government of threatening their livelihoods.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 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

Among those he ministered to were two female prisoners, one of them a Muslim, which raised some hackles in the Vatican.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2025

“You looked ... fierce. Like a wolf with all its hackles up,” she stopped, looking up at my head.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss