get someone's Irish up

English

Etymology

From a supposed propensity of Irish people to be easily and severely angered.

Pronunciation

Audio (AU) (file)

Verb

get someone 's Irish up

(idiomatic, racist, potentially offensive) To anger or annoy someone.
- 1979, David Garth, New York Magazine, page 14:
  "It's so crazy I've got to believe they're either paranoid or trying to get his Irish up so he will run [and split the anti-Carter vote in the primaries]. My guess is it's paranoia."

Synonyms

See Thesaurus:annoy and Thesaurus:enrage

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