Get your goat

Meaning

The idiom "get your goat" is used to describe a situation where someone's bad mood or temperament is caused by a specific event or person. It refers to the idea that someone has been agitated or upset by something, and it suggests that they may have difficulty controlling their emotions. The phrase "goat" is often used as a metaphor for an object that is difficult to control or overcome, and in this context, it represents the person or situation that has caused the other person's bad mood.

Usage

• "My boss always gets my goat when he assigns me too much work." In this sentence, the speaker implies that their boss causes them to feel upset or agitated because of the amount of work they are given.
• "The traffic jam got my goat. I was already late for the meeting." Here, the speaker suggests that the traffic jam caused them to feel frustrated and irritated, making them even later than they were supposed to be.
• "I hate when people make fun of me in public. It really gets my goat." In this sentence, the speaker expresses their anger at being made fun of in front of others, saying that it causes them to feel upset and agitated.
• "I'm always on edge when I have to speak in front of a group. It just gets my goat." Here, the speaker suggests that they feel anxious or uncomfortable speaking in front of an audience, which can cause them to feel agitated or upset.
• "I don't like it when people interrupt me while I'm talking. It really gets my goat." In this sentence, the speaker expresses their annoyance at being interrupted while they are speaking, saying that it causes them to feel upset and agitated.

Roots and History

The idiom "get your goat" has its roots in the Scottish Highlands, where goats were often kept as livestock. In the past, goats were used for milk and meat, and they were also considered useful animals for transporting goods. However, goats could be difficult to control or handle, especially if they were frightened or angry. This made them a common target of annoyance, and people would often complain about goats getting in their way or causing trouble. Over time, the phrase "get your goat" became popular in English as a metaphor for something that caused agitation or irritation. The exact origin of the idiom is unclear, but it may have been influenced by the Scottish use of the phrase.

Synonyms in English

• "Get under my skin" - This idiom refers to something that causes someone to feel upset or annoyed, often because it touches on a sensitive topic or reminds them of a painful memory.
• "Have my hair on fire" - This idiom refers to feeling extremely agitated or upset, often because of a particular situation or person.
• "Saw red" - This idiom refers to feeling very angry or enraged, often because of something that has caused them to lose their temper.
• "Blow a fuse" - This idiom refers to feeling extremely frustrated or upset, often because of something that has caused them to lose control of their emotions.
• "Have a short fuse" - This idiom refers to being prone to anger or irritability, often because of a particular personality trait or emotional state.

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "Tener el pelo en picos" - This idiom has the same meaning as "get under my skin" and refers to something that causes someone to feel upset or annoyed because it touches on a sensitive topic or reminds them of a painful memory.
• French: "Avoir les cheveux en flammes" - This idiom has the same meaning as "have my hair on fire" and refers to feeling extremely agitated or upset, often because of a particular situation or person.
• German: "Siehe rote Augen" - This idiom has the same meaning as "saw red" and refers to feeling very angry or enraged, often because of something that has caused them to lose their temper.
• Italian: "Avere i peli in punta" - This idiom has the same meaning as "have a short fuse" and refers to being prone to anger or irritability, often because of a particular personality trait or emotional state.
• Portuguese: "Ter pilos em pico" - This idiom has the same meaning as "get under my skin" and refers to something that causes someone to feel upset or annoyed because it touches on a sensitive topic or reminds them of a painful memory.

Similar Idioms

• get under skin

• let sleeping dogs lie

• sacred cow