bristle up
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To suddenly get angry or defensive, like how a cat's fur stands up when it's scared or angry.
Literal meaning: The literal image is of an animal's bristles or hairs standing upright as a threat display — extended to describe human anger or defensiveness.
Meanings
1 C1 neutral
(Of hair, fur, or feathers) to stand up stiffly, usually due to fear, cold, or excitement.
"The dog's fur bristled up when it heard the noise outside."
Grammar: inseparable
2 C1
idiomatic
informal
To react with visible irritation, indignation, or defensive anger.
"He bristled up immediately when his motives were questioned."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Often describes both the physical reaction of an animal (fur standing up) and the figurative human emotional reaction of defensive anger. The figurative sense is more common in literature than in everyday speech.
Commonly used with
indignation anger fur hairs defensiveness pride
Forms
Base
bristle up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bristles up
he/she/it
Past simple
bristled up
yesterday
Past participle
bristled up
have + pp
-ing form
bristling up
continuous
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