Ted Cruz — be careful who you mess with.

Never shy in defense of their city, New Yorkers came out swinging — via social and traditional media — on Friday after the Texas Republican's comments about "New York values" during a presidential debate.

Cruz's remarks, aimed as a put-down of campaign rival Donald Trump during Thursday evening's sour-toned Republican debate, sparked a backlash from city and upstate dwellers, politicians and ordinary citizens alike.