have one's back up en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) To be angry or defensive.
He's had his back up all morning. There's no point in trying to talk to him.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| has one's back up | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| had one's back up | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| had one's back up | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| having one's back up | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Relateds
raise someone's hackles · ruffle some feathers · get someone's back up · put someone's back up