rattles someone's cage
Intentionally stirs up
To rattle someone's cage is to provoke or irritate them, often deliberately.
The image is of poking at a caged animal to get a reaction: I was just rattling his cage—I didn't expect him to actually get angry.
Sometimes the goal is simply to stir someone from complacency: The editorial was meant to rattle a few cages at city hall.
- annoyCause mild irritation
- irritateCause mild anger
- push buttonsDeliberately provoke irritation
- press buttonsDepress control surfaces
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
rub the wrong way · provoke · get a rise out of · rile · teasing · instigation · needle · ruffle feathers · stir the pot · hit a nerve · wind up · antagonize · pick a fight · agitate · rock the boat · stir up trouble · anger · light a fire under
rattles someone's cageappeases
Satisfies to prevent conflict
backs off · lets sleeping dogs lie · plays nice · keeps the peace · kowtows
rattles someone's cageplacates
Calms someone's anger
appeases · mollifies · pours oil on troubled waters · butters up · sweet-talks