to rattle someone's cage 故意让人恼火

如果你 rattle someone's cage, 这就是说故意让某人恼火，不悦。

例句

I wouldn't approach John at the moment, someone's really rattled his cage this morning and he's in a horrible mood.

Why are you so cross? Who's rattled your cage today?

My girlfriend deliberately hid my car keys so that I wouldn't go out with my friends – it's really rattled my cage!

请注意

如果某人形容自己的处境犹如被锁在笼子里 caged in 那么意思就是空间狭小，左右受到限制。

This flat is far too small, I feel really caged in.

I don't like travelling on the tube during rush hour – you feel so caged in.