The true meaning of “Getting someone’s Goat” April 30, 2009
Posted by hubtechinsider in Definitions, Uncategorized.trackback
The expression, “To get someone’s goat”, meaning to anger or irritate, originated in 19th century racing stables in England. High-strung race horses were kept calm by having them share the stables with a goat. Evidently, the company calmed them and allowed them to rest and relax. Unprincipled hooligans would sometimes sneak into the stable at night and remove the goat. The horse got upset, would not have a good rest, and lose the race the next morning.
[...] doing what would offend them? Do you like to “get someone’s goat” or, like the goats used in 19th century horse stables, do you try to be a calming [...]