dander
C1Informal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
Tiny scales of dead skin and hair shed by animals, which can cause allergic reactions.
A state of irritation, anger, or temper; a colloquial expression for being agitated (e.g., "get one's dander up").
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has two distinct meanings. The primary meaning (allergenic particles) is medical/technical. The secondary meaning (temper) is idiomatic and largely used in the fixed phrase "get one's dander up" or similar.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both meanings are used in both varieties, though the idiomatic usage is somewhat more established in American English. The phrase "get one's dander up" is recognized but less common in British English.
Connotations
Neutral for the allergen meaning; informal/folksy for the temper meaning.
Frequency
Overall low frequency. The allergen meaning is more common in contexts discussing allergies and pets.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + dander (up)Allergic to + danderReduce/control + danderVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “get your dander up”
- “raise one's dander”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Used in medical/biological contexts referring to allergens.
Everyday
Used primarily when discussing pet allergies. The idiom is informal/familiar.
Technical
Used in immunology, allergology, and veterinary science.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new policy really dandered him up.
American English
- That comment would dander up anyone.
adjective
British English
- He was in a positively dandered state.
American English
- She was too dandered to listen.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My eyes get itchy from cat dander.
- Air purifiers can help reduce pet dander in the home.
- The controversial decision really got his dander up.
- Immunotherapy can desensitise individuals to specific animal danders.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of DANDer as related to DANDRUFF, but for your furry friend (a pet). For the temper meaning, imagine a cat's fur (dander) standing up when it's angry.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGER/IRRITATION IS A SUBSTANCE THAT CAN BE RAISED OR PROVOKED (get one's dander up).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "dandelion" (одуванчик).
- The idiomatic sense has no direct single-word Russian equivalent; it's a phrase meaning "разозлиться" or "выйти из себя".
- The primary meaning is a specific type of allergen, not just "перхоть" (dandruff) which is for the scalp.
Common Mistakes
- Using "dander" to mean simply "dust" (it's specific to animals).
- Confusing the spelling with "dandy" or "dandle".
- Using the idiomatic form incorrectly (e.g., "He lost his dander" is less standard than "He got his dander up").
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'dander' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Essentially, yes. It's the microscopic flakes of skin (and sometimes dried saliva) shed by animals with fur or feathers.
It's an informal idiom meaning to become angry or irritated.
The etymology is uncertain. The allergen meaning may be related to 'dandruff'. The temper meaning may derive from a different source, possibly 'dander' as a fermented liquor used in a 19th-century phrase.
Yes. Allergies to pets are most commonly reactions to proteins found in their dander, saliva, and urine.