Everyone feels angry sometimes. When people are mad, they might say things that show how upset they are. One way to do this is by using idioms. Idioms are special phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say. They help us talk about feelings like anger in fun and easy ways.
In this article, you will learn about 30 idioms for anger. These idioms will help you understand how people express anger in different situations. Knowing these phrases can make it easier to understand stories, movies, and conversations. You will also get examples to see how to use them. By the end, you will be able to find some idioms in a short activity too.
Idioms for Anger
1. Blow your top
Meaning: To get very angry quickly.
Samples: He blew his top when he lost the game. / Mom blew her top when she saw the mess in the kitchen.
To Put it Another Way: I got really mad fast. / My anger came out all at once.
2. See red
Meaning: To become very angry.
Samples: She saw red when someone took her seat. / I saw red after my brother broke my toy.
To Put it Another Way: I got very angry. / I couldn’t stay calm anymore.
3. Hit the roof
Meaning: To become extremely angry.
Samples: Dad hit the roof when the car wouldn’t start. / She hit the roof after hearing the bad news.
To Put it Another Way: I got super mad. / My anger went way up.
4. Lose your cool
Meaning: To get angry and stop staying calm.
Samples: He lost his cool during the argument. / I lost my cool when someone took my turn.
To Put it Another Way: I couldn’t stay calm. / I got upset and showed it.
5. Get bent out of shape
Meaning: To get upset or angry about something small.
Samples: She got bent out of shape when her friend forgot her birthday. / Don’t get bent out of shape over the lost pencil.
To Put it Another Way: I got upset for no big reason. / I overreacted and got mad.
6. Blow a fuse
Meaning: To suddenly become very angry.
Samples: He blew a fuse when his computer crashed. / Mom blew a fuse after the kids spilled juice everywhere.
To Put it Another Way: I lost my temper quickly. / My anger exploded suddenly.
7. Get hot under the collar
Meaning: To become angry or annoyed.
Samples: He got hot under the collar when the team lost. / I got hot under the collar when my sister took my game.
To Put it Another Way: I got mad and bothered. / I felt angry and upset.
8. Fly off the handle
Meaning: To lose your temper suddenly.
Samples: She flew off the handle when the ball broke the window. / He flew off the handle after the bad grade.
To Put it Another Way: I got angry all of a sudden. / My anger burst out fast.
9. Get your feathers ruffled
Meaning: To become upset or angry about something small.
Samples: He got his feathers ruffled when the teacher corrected him. / I got my feathers ruffled because someone took my spot.
To Put it Another Way: I got bothered easily. / I got upset over a little thing.
10. Be up in arms
Meaning: To be very angry or upset about something.
Samples: The students were up in arms about the new rule. / She was up in arms when her bike was stolen.
To Put it Another Way: I was very mad. / I strongly didn’t like it.
11. Have a fit
Meaning: To show sudden anger or frustration.
Samples: He had a fit when he lost his favorite toy. / Mom had a fit when the dishes broke.
To Put it Another Way: I got very upset fast. / I showed my anger clearly.
12. Throw a tantrum
Meaning: To have an angry outburst, often by children.
Samples: The little boy threw a tantrum when he couldn’t have candy. / She threw a tantrum after losing the game.
To Put it Another Way: I acted angry and loud. / I made a big fuss because I was mad.
13. Get steamed up
Meaning: To get angry or frustrated.
Samples: He got steamed up when his plans changed. / I got steamed up when I missed the bus.
To Put it Another Way: I got mad and upset. / I couldn’t keep calm.
14. Blow your stack
Meaning: To suddenly lose your temper.
Samples: She blew her stack when her homework was lost. / Dad blew his stack after a long day.
To Put it Another Way: I got angry quickly. / I lost control of my feelings.
15. Go ballistic
Meaning: To become very angry suddenly.
Samples: He went ballistic when his phone was broken. / She went ballistic after hearing the news.
To Put it Another Way: I got extremely mad fast. / I lost my cool completely.
16. Rant and rave
Meaning: To shout and talk loudly because you are angry.
Samples: He ranted and raved about the unfair test. / She ranted and raved when her team lost.
To Put it Another Way: I yelled because I was upset. / I spoke loudly to show anger.
17. Get worked up
Meaning: To become upset or angry.
Samples: He got worked up before the big game. / I got worked up when I lost my keys.
To Put it Another Way: I got nervous and mad. / I felt upset and stressed.
18. See stars
Meaning: To be so angry or shocked that you feel dizzy or upset.
Samples: He saw stars after the argument with his friend. / I saw stars when my sister yelled at me.
To Put it Another Way: I felt shocked and dizzy from anger. / My anger made me feel upset inside.
19. Get your goat
Meaning: To annoy or anger someone.
Samples: His little brother really gets his goat by teasing him. / Don’t get your goat over small mistakes.
To Put it Another Way: Someone made me mad. / I got bothered by a person.
20. Have a chip on your shoulder
Meaning: To be angry about something from the past.
Samples: He has a chip on his shoulder about losing the game last year. / She has a chip on her shoulder about not being picked.
To Put it Another Way: I’m still upset about something old. / I hold a grudge.
21. Blow a gasket
Meaning: To suddenly become very angry.
Samples: Dad blew a gasket when the car broke down. / She blew a gasket after the accident.
To Put it Another Way: I lost my temper fast. / My anger burst out suddenly.
22. Get in a huff
Meaning: To get angry or annoyed and show it by leaving or stopping talking.
Samples: He got in a huff when his friend didn’t listen. / She got in a huff after the argument.
To Put it Another Way: I got mad and stopped talking. / I showed I was upset by leaving.
23. Be ticked off
Meaning: To be annoyed or angry.
Samples: I was ticked off when my brother broke my toy. / She was ticked off about losing the game.
To Put it Another Way: I was mad and bothered. / I didn’t like what happened.
24. Seeing red
Meaning: To become very angry.
Samples: I was seeing red when I found out that my project was deleted. / He was seeing red when they ignored his suggestion.
To Put it Another Way: I was furious. / He was extremely mad.
25. Get in someone’s face
Meaning: To confront or annoy someone angrily.
Samples: He got in my face when I said no. / She got in his face about the broken phone.
To Put it Another Way: I stood very close and showed anger. / I made my anger clear to someone.
26. Be hot-headed
Meaning: To get angry easily.
Samples: He’s hot-headed and yells a lot. / I get hot-headed when things don’t go my way.
To Put it Another Way: I get mad quickly. / I have a short temper.
27. Blow a steam whistle
Meaning: To suddenly get very angry.
Samples: He blew a steam whistle when his plans failed. / She blew a steam whistle after the argument.
To Put it Another Way: I lost my temper suddenly. / My anger burst out fast.
28. Get your dander up
Meaning: To become angry or upset.
Samples: He got his dander up when someone took his seat. / I got my dander up after the unfair game.
To Put it Another Way: I got mad and upset. / I couldn’t stay calm.
29. Be fuming
Meaning: To be very angry.
Samples: She was fuming after the fight. / I was fuming when I lost my phone.
To Put it Another Way: I was very mad. / My anger was strong.
30. Lose it
Meaning: To lose control of your emotions, especially anger.
Samples: He lost it after the big argument. / I lost it when I dropped my phone.
To Put it Another Way: I couldn’t control my anger. / My feelings got too big to handle.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Anger
Last week at school, the students were getting ready for the big Valentine’s Day party. Mia was so excited, but when she found out her best friend didn’t want to sit with her, she started to see red. It made her feel very angry. Later, during the classroom game, Jake blew his top when someone cheated. Everyone was surprised because Jake usually stays calm.
After that, the teacher reminded everyone not to lose their cool, but Tim got upset and flew off the handle when he lost his turn. The principal had to calm him down. Meanwhile, Sarah was quietly fuming in the corner because she didn’t get picked for the dance. At recess, David started to rant and rave about the unfair teams. Finally, the coach told them to stop and not get bent out of shape over small things.
Can you underline or list the 8 idioms about anger used in this story?
Answer Key
- See red
- Blew his top
- Lose their cool
- Flew off the handle
- Fuming
- Rant and rave
- Get bent out of shape
- Blow your top
Conclusion
Idioms for anger help us talk about strong feelings in a way that is easy to understand. They show how people express being upset in different situations. Learning these phrases can make it easier to understand conversations and stories about emotions. Remember, everyone gets angry sometimes, and using idioms can help you explain how you feel clearly and simply.
