get a rise out of

Idioms and Phrases

Elicit an angry or irritated reaction, as in His teasing always got a rise out of her . This expression alludes to the angler's dropping a fly in a likely spot in the hope that a fish will rise to this bait.

Related Words

• annoy
• arouse
• displease
• excite
• gall
• galvanize
• ignite
• incense
• irk
• irritate
• kindle
• offend
• rile
• stimulate
• whet