Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

get someone's irish up

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.11 in modern English

Syllables: get -some-one's irish up
IPA

26

Scrabble Score

18

Letters

3

Syllables

12

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To anger or annoy someone.

Example Sentences

""It's so crazy I've got to believe they're either paranoid or trying to get his Irish up so he will run [and split the anti-Carter vote in the primaries]. My guess is it's paranoia.""

Etymology

From a supposed propensity of Irish people to be easily and severely angered.

Inflected Forms

gets someone's Irish up (present, singular) getting someone's Irish up (participle, present) got someone's Irish up (past) got someone's Irish up (UK, participle) gotten someone's Irish up (US, participle)

Synonyms

annoy and Thesaurus:enrage

Questions

What does get someone's irish up mean?: To anger or annoy someone.
Where does get someone's irish up come from?: From a supposed propensity of Irish people to be easily and severely angered.

How to pronounce get someone's irish up

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