[FONT size=5]Get one's goat[/FONT]
[TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=8 width=700 border=0] [TBODY] [TR] [TD vAlign=top width="15%" bgColor=#ffffff]Meaning:[/TD] [TD vAlign=top width="85%" bgColor=#ffffff]Invoke an angry and emotional response; to aggravate, irritate or annoy.[/TD][/TR] [TR] [TD vAlign=top width="15%" bgColor=#ffffff]Example:[/TD] [TD vAlign=center width="85%" bgColor=#ffffff]People in cars often provide hand signals to communicate their dissatisfaction with your driving. They are trying to get your goat, so just smile and [A class=kLink oncontextmenu="return false;" id=KonaLink2 onmouseover=adlinkMouseOver(event,this,2); style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick=adlinkMouseClick(event,this,2); onmouseout=adlinkMouseOut(event,this,2); href="vny!://www.joe-ks.com/phrases/phrasesG.htm#" target=_top][FONT style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue! important; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; POSITION: static" color=blue][SPAN class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue! important; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; POSITION: relative"]wave[/SPAN][/FONT][/A].[/TD][/TR] [TR] [TD vAlign=top width="15%" bgColor=#ffffff]Origin:[/TD] [TD vAlign=center width="85%" bgColor=#ffffff]This may be a mispronunciation of "get your goad". A goad is a pointed rod used to urge on livestock. A modern equivalent of a goad is the cattle prod. To goad is to stimulate into action. The phrase "goad you on" comes to mind. To "get your goat (goad)" then is to be successful in stimulating a response. Alternative: The word gut down through the years was altered to goat. When something gets your gut, it upsets you and ties your stomach in knots. Alternative: [A class=kLink oncontextmenu="return false;" id=KonaLink3 onmouseover=adlinkMouseOver(event,this,3); style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick=adlinkMouseClick(event,this,3); onmouseout=adlinkMouseOut(event,this,3); href="vny!://www.joe-ks.com/phrases/phrasesG.htm#" target=_top][FONT style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue! important; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; POSITION: static" color=blue][SPAN class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue! important; BORDER-BOTTOM: blue 1px solid; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; POSITION: relative; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"]Hyperactive[/SPAN][/FONT][/A] racehorses were often given goats as stablemates because their presence tended to have a calming effect on the horses. After the horse became attached to the goat, it got very upset when its companion disappeared - making it run poorly on the track. In the 19th century, when a devious gambler wanted a horse to lose, he would get the horse's goat and take it away the night before the race, thus agitating the horse.
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