Meaning & use
got your goat
Last updated
UK/ˌɡɒt jɔː ˈɡəʊt/
US/ˌɡɑːt jʊr ˈɡoʊt/
Meaning
phraseidiominformal
Annoyed or irritated you, especially in a way that made you lose your calm.
Grammar: The possessive changes with the person: got my goat, got her goat.
Patterns
- get someone's goat
- something gets someone's goat
His constant bragging really got my goat.
What got your goat about the meeting?
It got her goat that nobody thanked her.
Word forms
| third person singular | gets your goat |
|---|---|
| past tense | got your goat |
| -ing form | getting your goat |
Common combinations
- really got my goat
- Being ignored really got my goat.
- get someone's goat
- Slow drivers always get his goat.
- don't let it get your goat
- Don't let their rudeness get your goat.
- what got your goat
- What got your goat today?
Synonyms and how they differ
- annoyed
- Annoyed is neutral and covers any irritation, while got your goat is informal and slightly humorous.
- irked
- Irked is more formal and mild, whereas the goat idiom sounds more conversational.
- rattled
- Rattled suggests being unsettled or nervous, not just irritated.
- infuriated
- Infuriated is far stronger and implies real anger.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: got your goat or got your back?
got your goat vs got your back
Got your back means I will support you, which is the opposite of annoying you.
Practice
It really ___ when he took credit for my work.
Choose one answer.
Got my goat means annoyed me, which fits someone taking credit. Made my day would mean pleased me.
Make it your own
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