noun
dander
Anger or irritation, especially when provoked.
The accusation got his dander up.
Etymology
Origin uncertain. Get one's dander up means becoming angry; the identical skin-flake word does not establish the expression's ancestry.
More examples
- Her dander rose when they questioned her honesty.
- That insulting remark will raise their dander.
- He tried not to get his dander up over a minor mistake.
Forms
dander
Similar words
- anger
- Anger is the general term; dander usually appears in informal phrases about becoming angry.
- irritation
- Irritation may be mild; getting someone’s dander up suggests provoking an indignant response.