irish up
C1 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To make someone angry or ready to fight.
Literal meaning: To make someone 'Irish' in the stereotypical sense of becoming fiery or combative.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
informal
To arouse someone's anger, fighting spirit, or combativeness.
"That comment really irishe him up — he was ready to argue with anyone."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Informal and considered offensive or stereotyping by many speakers, as it plays on the cultural stereotype of Irish people as hot-tempered. Mainly used in American English. Use with caution. Occasionally encountered in older texts or informal American speech.
Commonly used with
temper someone crowd spirit
Forms
Base
irish up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
irishes up
he/she/it
Past simple
irished up
yesterday
Past participle
irished up
have + pp
-ing form
irishing up
continuous
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