hackles
C2Mainly literary or journalistic; also common in idiomatic expressions.
Definition
Meaning
The erectile hairs or feathers on the neck or back of an animal (especially a dog or bird), which rise when the animal is angry, alarmed, or excited.
A person's anger, irritation, or pride, typically as shown by a physical reaction or combative posture.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost always plural in form (hackles). Most commonly used in the fixed idiom "raise someone's hackles" or "make someone's hackles rise," meaning to annoy or anger someone. Can also be used literally for animals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The idiom is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
The literal meaning (animal's fur/feathers) is neutral. The figurative use (human anger) carries connotations of instinctive, primal, or defensive irritation.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English in literal ornithological contexts (bird's neck feathers). Figurative use frequency is comparable.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP]'s hackles rise[NP] raises [NP]'s hackleswith [POSS] hackles upVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “raise/get someone's hackles up”
- “make someone's hackles rise”
- “with hackles raised”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically in management or negotiation contexts: "The proposed merger raised the hackles of the veteran staff."
Academic
Rare, except in literary analysis or animal behavior studies.
Everyday
Common in figurative expressions describing personal reactions: "His arrogant tone made my hackles rise."
Technical
Used in zoology, veterinary science, or dog breeding for the literal neck/back feathers or hairs.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The dog's fur hackled along its spine as the stranger approached.
- The politician's inflammatory rhetoric hackled the entire committee.
American English
- The cat hackled its back at the sound of the dog barking.
- His dismissive comments hackled everyone in the meeting.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial use)
American English
- (No standard adverbial use)
adjective
British English
- The hackled neck of the fighting cock was a fearsome sight. (Rare, technical)
American English
- They observed the hackled feathers of the threatened grouse. (Rare, technical)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Not typically taught at A2)
- The loud noise made the dog's hackles rise.
- She spoke calmly to avoid raising his hackles.
- The journalist's intrusive questions really raised the minister's hackles.
- I could feel my hackles rising as he continued his unfair criticism.
- The proposed legislation, with its draconian measures, immediately raised hackles across the civil liberties community.
- A lifetime of dealing with condescension had left her with permanently raised hackles on that subject.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an angry HACK (like a critic) with spiky LES (hair) standing up on their neck. A hack's critical words raise your hackles.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGER IS A (DANGEROUS) ANIMAL / EMOTION IS A PHYSICAL FORCE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводится дословно. "Шерсть дыбом встала" или "взъерошенные перья" передают лишь буквальный смысл. Для идиомы "raise hackles" используйте "вывести из себя", "разозлить", "задеть чьё-то самолюбие".
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a singular noun (*a hackle).
- Confusing with "heckles" (to interrupt a performer).
- Misspelling as "hackels".
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'with his hackles up' most likely mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Virtually never in modern English. The singular 'hackle' exists but is highly technical, referring to a single feather used in fishing flies or a tool for combing flax. The term for anger/irritation is always plural.
Extremely rarely. Its core semantics are tied to alarm, threat, anger, or defensiveness. While excitement might cause a physical reaction, using 'hackles' would imply a negative, confrontational context.
Both are used idiomatically for anger ('get someone's dander up'). 'Dander' is more informal and often American, while 'hackles' is more widespread and retains a stronger visual link to animal behavior.
Yes, this is a standard passive construction of the idiom. However, the more active forms 'made my hackles rise' or 'raised my hackles' are equally common.