hackles

/ ˈhækəlz /

plural noun

1. the hairs on the back of the neck and the back of a dog, cat, etc, which rise when the animal is angry or afraid
2. anger or resentment (esp in the phrases get one's hackles up, make one's hackles rise )

Idioms and Phrases

see raise someone's hackles .

Example Sentences

Feline lovers in Kenya’s capital have been twitching over the threat of what is perceived as a “cat tax” - and any talk of tax in the East African nation raises the hackles.

From BBC

The ghastly cat’s hackles grew higher as he meant to pounce and claw me out.

From Literature

But the new medal has raised hackles among purists because of a key difference: It was redesigned to feature a large banner for Bank of America, the race’s corporate sponsor, along the bottom edge.

From New York Times

The fact that the 71-year-old president had initially threatened military action against Niger was what really raised hackles.

From BBC

The announcement comes after a painstaking vote counting process, which has raised the hackles of electoral watchdogs and the country’s weak opposition, who cite irregularities.

From Seattle Times