HACKLES Meaning and
Definition
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Hackles refer to the long, slender, and often pointy hairs located on the back of certain animals, such as dogs and cats, that can become erected when the animal is stimulated by fear, anger, or excitement. They are typically found in a row along the spine and extend from the neck to the base of the tail. When the hackles are raised, the animal's overall appearance becomes more intimidating and defensive, as the hairs standing on end make the animal appear larger and fiercer. This physical reaction is an instinctual response that helps animals to ward off potential threats by making them appear more aggressive.
The idiom "raise one's hackles" is also commonly used, referring to someone becoming irritated or angry as a result of feeling the need to defend themselves or their beliefs. When confronted with disagreement or criticism, individuals might experience a psychological response similar to animals raising their hackles, displaying a sign of defensiveness or agitation. In this sense, hackles can be seen as a metaphorical representation of one's inner emotional state, indicating their readiness to protect themselves or their opinions.
Overall, hackles can refer to physical hairs on an animal's back that become raised in response to certain stimuli, or it can describe a psychological reaction of defensiveness or irritability in humans.
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The long shining feathers from the cock's neck used to make artificial flies.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for HACKLES *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for HACKLES
Etymology of HACKLES
The word "hackles" has an interesting etymology. It originated from the Old English word "hacule" or "hacel", which referred to the hair on the back of an animal, especially a dog. This Old English term can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "hakilon", meaning "long hair" or "mane". It ultimately comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "kak-", which meant "something pointed" or "to be sharp". Over time, the meaning of "hackles" expanded to include the hairs on the neck and back of humans, indicating raised hairs due to fear, anger, or irritation. The phrase "raising one's hackles" is commonly used to describe getting defensive or being angered by something.
Idioms with the word HACKLES
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make (sb's) hackles rise
The idiom "make (sb's) hackles rise" refers to a situation or remark that irritates, annoys, or angers someone, causing a strong emotional reaction. It is often used to describe a response of intense displeasure or anger, where an individual's hackles metaphorically rise, like the hair on the back of an animal standing on end.
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raise (sb's) hackles, at make (sb's) hackles rise
The idiom "raise (sb's) hackles" or "make (sb's) hackles rise" refers to something that causes someone to become angry, annoyed, or irritated. It implies that something has triggered a strong emotional response, similar to how a dog's hair stands on end (hackles) when it feels threatened or aggressive.
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raise hackles
The idiom "raise hackles" means to provoke strong feelings of anger, annoyance, or irritation in someone. It refers to a situation or action that causes one to become defensive, agitated, or irritated. It can also imply an action that confronts or challenges someone's beliefs or principles, causing a negative reaction.
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raise your hackles
To "raise your hackles" means to become angry, defensive, or offended, often as a reaction to a perceived threat, insult, or injustice. It refers to the reaction of animals, particularly dogs, whose hair stands up on the back of their necks when they feel threatened, as a sign of aggression or readiness to defend themselves. Similarly, when someone's hackles are raised, it implies that they are becoming aggressively defensive or angry.
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raise (sb's) hackles
The idiom "raise (sb's) hackles" refers to a phrase used to describe actions or behavior that irritate, provoke, or cause anger in someone. It signifies an act that triggers a strong negative emotional response, causing someone to become defensive or angry. It derives its origin from the physiological reaction of a dog or a cat when their fur on the back of the neck, known as "hackles," stands up in response to a perceived threat or aggression.
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get one's hackles up
The idiom "get one's hackles up" refers to someone becoming angry, defensive, or irritated in response to a perceived threat or provocation. It implies the feeling of one's hair or feathers on the back of their neck standing up when faced with a challenge or confrontation.
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make somebody’s hackles rise
The idiom "make somebody’s hackles rise" refers to a situation or action that causes someone to become very angry, irritated, or defensive. It implies that the person is provoked or annoyed to the point where their neck hairs (hackles) figuratively stand up, indicating their heightened emotional state.
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raise somebody’s hackles
The idiom "raise somebody's hackles" means to make someone angry, irritated, or defensive. It refers to the hackles, which are the hairs on the back of an animal's neck that stand upright when it feels threatened or provoked. When someone's hackles are raised, they become tense, defensive, or annoyed due to a particular action, statement, or situation.
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your, his, etc. hackles rise
The idiom "your, his, etc. hackles rise" refers to a physiological and emotional response where someone becomes immediately defensive, angry, or irritated due to feeling threatened or challenged. It stems from the involuntary raising of hair or fur along the back of an animal, especially a dog or a cat, when they feel threatened or agitated. In human beings, when their hackles rise, it indicates a similar defensive response, often resulting from a perceived insult, injustice, or a strong disagreement. It signifies an immediate readiness to confront or confrontational behavior in response to the situation at hand.
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make (someone's) hackles rise
The idiom "make someone's hackles rise" means to cause someone to become angry, defensive, or annoyed. It originated from the behavior of animals, particularly dogs, whose hackles (the hair on the back of their neck and upper back) stand up when they are agitated or threatened. Thus, when someone's hackles rise figuratively, it indicates a similar emotional response.
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raise (one's) hackles
The idiom "raise (one's) hackles" means to provoke or irritate someone, causing them to become defensive, angry, or annoyed. It refers to the way animals, such as dogs or cats, raise the hair on the back of their necks when they feel threatened or agitated. Similarly, when someone's hackles are raised metaphorically, it implies that they feel provoked or offended.
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(one's) hackles rise
The idiom "(one's) hackles rise" is used to describe a scenario when someone becomes extremely angry, defensive, or irritated. It refers to the physiological response seen in animals like dogs or cats where the hair on the back of their neck or spine stands up when they feel threatened or provoked. In humans, it signifies a similar reaction to being provoked or offended, resulting in feelings of anger or being on edge.
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raise someone's hackles
To "raise someone's hackles" means to make someone feel angry, irritated, or defensive. It refers to a reaction similar to when an animal's fur or hairs stand on end, usually out of anger or fear.
Similar spelling words for HACKLES
Conjugate verb Hackles
CONDITIONAL
I
would hackle
we
would hackle
you
would hackle
he/she/it
would hackle
they
would hackle
FUTURE
I
will hackle
we
will hackle
you
will hackle
he/she/it
will hackle
they
will hackle
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have hackled
we
will have hackled
you
will have hackled
he/she/it
will have hackled
they
will have hackled
PAST
I
hackled
we
hackled
you
hackled
he/she/it
hackled
they
hackled
PAST PERFECT
I
had hackled
we
had hackled
you
had hackled
he/she/it
had hackled
they
had hackled
PRESENT
I
hackle
we
hackle
you
hackle
he/she/it
hackles
they
hackle
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have hackled
we
have hackled
you
have hackled
he/she/it
has hackled
they
have hackled
I
am hackling
we
are hackling
you
are hackling
he/she/it
is hackling
they
are hackling
I
was hackling
we
were hackling
you
were hackling
he/she/it
was hackling
they
were hackling
I
will be hackling
we
will be hackling
you
will be hackling
he/she/it
will be hackling
they
will be hackling
I
have been hackling
we
have been hackling
you
have been hackling
he/she/it
has been hackling
they
have been hackling
I
had been hackling
we
had been hackling
you
had been hackling
he/she/it
had been hackling
they
had been hackling
I
will have been hackling
we
will have been hackling
you
will have been hackling
he/she/it
will have been hackling
they
will have been hackling
I
would have hackled
we
would have hackled
you
would have hackled
he/she/it
would have hackled
they
would have hackled
I
would be hackling
we
would be hackling
you
would be hackling
he/she/it
would be hackling
they
would be hackling
I
would have been hackling
we
would have been hackling
you
would have been hackling
he/she/it
would have been hackling
they
would have been hackling
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