rearing up
Horse's dramatic stance
Rearing up describes an animal, especially a horse, rising on its hind legs with forelegs lifted: The horse reared up when the snake crossed its path.
The phrase extends to anything that rises suddenly or imposingly: Mountains reared up in the distance, Old fears reared up again.
It often suggests something startling or threatening emerging into view.
- upriseTo rebel or ascend
- prancingShowy high-stepping movement
- hind legsAnimal's back limbs
- wild horseFeral, undomesticated equine
- raiseLift or increase
standing tall · cobra pose · ascending · bucking · asserting oneself · springing · resisting · defiance · pawing · climbing · leaping · elevating · rebellion · looming · standing on end · lifting · confronting · fight or flight
- dominance displaysdisplay, alpha behavior, power stance, chest puffing, baring teeth
- animal behaviorsswimming, running, walking, jumping, flying
rearing uplowering
Moving something downward
lying down · settling down · stooping · ducking · descending
rearing upsubsiding
Decreasing in intensity
dying down · receding · fading away · settling · calming down