getting someone's goat
Deliberately causing frustration
Getting someone's goat is irritating or annoying them, provoking frustration: Don't let him get your goat—he's just trying to rile you up.
The expression suggests someone has found and exploited a vulnerability.
Often appears as get your goat or got my goat.
- pushing buttonsIntentionally causing irritation
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- provokingCausing a reaction
- goadingInciting through persistent pressure
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
ruffling feathers · aggravation · annoyance · frustration · grinding gears · exasperation · pique · perturbation · needling · taunting · mocking · antagonizing · vexation · pestering · ribbing · fuming · confronting · retaliating
getting someone's goattaking the edge off
Reducing harshness slightly
getting someone's goatmaking peace
Ending hostilities between parties
burying the hatchet · pouring oil on troubled waters · building bridges · making amends · mending fences