GETTING ONE GOAT Meaning and
Definition
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The phrase "getting one's goat" is an idiomatic expression commonly used to describe the act of deliberately provoking, annoying, or irritating someone with the aim of making them upset or angry. It implies the deliberate targeting of a person's emotions or vulnerabilities to achieve a certain reaction.
The origin of this phrase is uncertain but is often attributed to horse racing. It is said that racehorses tend to be very calm and composed, but when they have a companion goat in their stall, they become more agitated and anxious. Therefore, rival horse owners would steal or take away the goat of a competitive horse to disrupt its focus and composure before a race, in hopes of gaining a competitive advantage.
Metaphorically, when someone "gets your goat," it means they have successfully irritated or angered you, causing an emotional reaction or disrupting your composure. It represents a deliberate act of undermining another person's emotional state or creating a sense of frustration.
The phrase can be used in various contexts, from everyday conflicts to competitive situations, indicating a deliberate attempt to provoke someone emotionally or psychologically. While its origin may be specific to horse racing, "getting one's goat" has now become a widely understood idiom in many English-speaking cultures to describe the act of deliberately causing annoyance or frustration to someone.
Common Misspellings for GETTING ONE GOAT
- fetting one goat
- vetting one goat
- betting one goat
- hetting one goat
- yetting one goat
- tetting one goat
- gwtting one goat
- gstting one goat
- gdtting one goat
- grtting one goat
- g4tting one goat
- g3tting one goat
- gerting one goat
- gefting one goat
- gegting one goat
- geyting one goat
- ge6ting one goat
- ge5ting one goat
- getring one goat
- getfing one goat
