Feeling angry is something everyone experiences. Sometimes, people get upset or mad because things do not go the way they want. Instead of just saying “I’m angry,” people often use special phrases called idioms. Idioms are groups of words that mean something different from their usual meanings. They help us talk about feelings in a more interesting way.
In this article, you will learn about idioms for angry. These idioms can help you understand how people express anger in everyday speech. Knowing these phrases will also make your own speaking and writing more fun and clear. Let’s start exploring these common ways to say someone is angry.
Idioms for Angry
1. Blow your top
Meaning: To get very angry suddenly.
Samples: My brother blew his top when I broke his toy. / She blew her top after losing the game.
To Put it Another Way: I got really mad fast. / I lost my temper.
2. See red
Meaning: To become very angry.
Samples: He saw red when someone took his seat. / I saw red when the dog made a mess in the house.
To Put it Another Way: I got really mad. / I was full of anger.
3. Hot under the collar
Meaning: Feeling angry or upset.
Samples: She was hot under the collar when she missed the bus. / Dad got hot under the collar when the car wouldn’t start.
To Put it Another Way: I felt angry and annoyed. / I was upset and bothered.
4. Hit the roof
Meaning: To get very angry suddenly.
Samples: Mom hit the roof when I forgot my homework. / He hit the roof after losing his game.
To Put it Another Way: I got really mad quickly. / I exploded with anger.
5. Go ballistic
Meaning: To become very angry and lose control.
Samples: She went ballistic when her phone was taken. / Dad went ballistic when he saw the broken window.
To Put it Another Way: I got super angry. / I couldn’t control my anger.
6. Up in arms
Meaning: Very upset or angry about something.
Samples: The students were up in arms about the new rule. / We were up in arms when the field was closed.
To Put it Another Way: Everyone was angry and protesting. / We didn’t like what happened.
7. Lose your cool
Meaning: To stop being calm and get angry.
Samples: He lost his cool after being teased. / I lost my cool when my sister took my snack.
To Put it Another Way: I stopped being calm. / I got angry and upset.
8. Get bent out of shape
Meaning: To get upset or angry about something small.
Samples: She got bent out of shape when her friend was late. / Don’t get bent out of shape over a little mistake.
To Put it Another Way: I got upset over something small. / I got more mad than I needed to.
9. Have a short fuse
Meaning: To get angry quickly.
Samples: He has a short fuse and gets mad easily. / My dad has a short fuse when the car breaks down.
To Put it Another Way: I get mad fast. / It doesn’t take much to make me angry.
10. Blow a fuse
Meaning: To suddenly lose your temper and get angry.
Samples: She blew a fuse when her project fell apart. / I blew a fuse when the video game stopped working.
To Put it Another Way: I got very mad suddenly. / I lost my temper all of a sudden.
11. Go off the deep end
Meaning: To become very angry or upset suddenly.
Samples: He went off the deep end when he lost his keys. / She went off the deep end when her phone broke.
To Put it Another Way: I got very upset fast. / I couldn’t control my anger.
12. Fly off the handle
Meaning: To suddenly get angry.
Samples: Dad flew off the handle when the TV wouldn’t work. / She flew off the handle after the argument.
To Put it Another Way: I got angry quickly. / I lost my calm suddenly.
13. See red flags
Meaning: To notice signs of anger or trouble.
Samples: I saw red flags when my friend was quiet all day. / The teacher saw red flags during the argument.
To Put it Another Way: I noticed something was wrong. / I saw signs of anger.
14. Blow steam
Meaning: To express anger or frustration.
Samples: After the test, I blew steam by yelling outside. / He blew steam when he lost the race.
To Put it Another Way: I let out my anger. / I released my frustration.
15. Fume quietly
Meaning: To be angry but not show it openly.
Samples: She was fuming quietly after losing the game. / He fumed quietly when no one listened to him.
To Put it Another Way: I was mad inside but didn’t show it. / I felt angry but stayed calm outside.
16. Get your hackles up
Meaning: To get angry or annoyed.
Samples: She got her hackles up when people ignored her ideas. / I got my hackles up when they blamed me.
To Put it Another Way: I felt angry and upset. / I became annoyed quickly.
17. Go through the roof
Meaning: To get very angry suddenly.
Samples: Mom went through the roof when I spilled juice on the floor. / He went through the roof after hearing bad news.
To Put it Another Way: I got very angry fast. / My anger shot up quickly.
18. Have a fit
Meaning: To get very angry or upset.
Samples: She had a fit when her toy broke. / I had a fit when I lost my favorite book.
To Put it Another Way: I got very mad. / I was upset and angry.
19. Get steamed up
Meaning: To get angry or annoyed.
Samples: He got steamed up when he had to wait a long time. / I got steamed up when the game was unfair.
To Put it Another Way: I felt annoyed. / I got angry little by little.
20. Go nuts
Meaning: To become very angry or excited.
Samples: She went nuts when she found out about the party. / He went nuts after losing the race.
To Put it Another Way: I got really mad or excited. / I lost control a bit.
21. Get hot-headed
Meaning: To become angry easily.
Samples: He is hot-headed and often shouts. / I get hot-headed when things don’t go my way.
To Put it Another Way: I get angry fast. / I lose calm quickly.
22. Blow your gasket
Meaning: To suddenly get very angry.
Samples: She blew her gasket when her bike was stolen. / Dad blew his gasket after a bad day at work.
To Put it Another Way: I got mad suddenly. / I lost my temper fast.
23. Get your dander up
Meaning: To become angry or upset.
Samples: I got my dander up when they didn’t listen to me. / She got her dander up during the argument.
To Put it Another Way: I became angry. / I got upset.
24. See red lights
Meaning: To notice signs that something will cause anger.
Samples: I saw red lights when my friend started yelling. / The coach saw red lights during the fight.
To Put it Another Way: I noticed danger signs. / I knew trouble was coming.
25. Blow your stack
Meaning: To lose your temper suddenly.
Samples: He blew his stack when the team lost. / I blew my stack when I missed the bus.
To Put it Another Way: I got very angry quickly. / I lost control of my anger.
26. Get worked up
Meaning: To become upset or angry.
Samples: She got worked up before the test. / I got worked up when the game was unfair.
To Put it Another Way: I got upset. / I felt angry inside.
27. Have a meltdown
Meaning: To lose control because of anger or stress.
Samples: He had a meltdown when he lost his homework. / I had a meltdown when my toy broke.
To Put it Another Way: I couldn’t stay calm. / I got very upset and angry.
28. Throw a tantrum
Meaning: To show anger loudly, often like a child.
Samples: The little boy threw a tantrum when he didn’t get candy. / She threw a tantrum after losing the game.
To Put it Another Way: I showed anger loudly. / I acted out because I was mad.
29. Get in a huff
Meaning: To be angry and show it by being quiet or upset.
Samples: She got in a huff when no one helped her. / I got in a huff after losing the race.
To Put it Another Way: I was mad and quiet. / I showed my anger by being upset.
30. Get in a stew
Meaning: To get upset or worried, sometimes angry.
Samples: He got in a stew when he forgot his homework. / I got in a stew before the big test.
To Put it Another Way: I got nervous and upset. / I felt worried and mad.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Angry
Last week at school, Jake was feeling upset. He blew his top when he found out someone took his lunch from the cafeteria. Later, during recess, Sarah got hot under the collar because her team lost the soccer game by one point.
When the teacher gave a surprise quiz, some students lost their cool. Mia saw red when her best friend forgot her birthday. After class, the principal told the class to calm down because a few kids were getting bent out of shape over a small argument.
In the hallway, Tommy flew off the handle when someone bumped into him by accident. Then, at the end of the day, Emma was fuming quietly after a disagreement with her sister on the bus ride home.
It’s normal to feel angry sometimes, but it’s important to calm down and talk about your feelings.
Your task:
Underline or list all 8 idioms for angry used in the story above.
Answer Key
- Blew his top
- Hot under the collar
- Lost their cool
- Saw red
- Getting bent out of shape
- Flew off the handle
- Fuming quietly
- Calm down
Conclusion
Idioms about anger help us understand feelings in a clear and fun way. They show different ways people express being mad or upset. Using these phrases can make talking about emotions easier and more interesting.
Remember, everyone feels angry sometimes, and learning idioms can help you explain those feelings better. It’s good to know how to say you’re upset without hurting others.
