Anger is a powerful emotion that we all experience. In this article, I will explore 30 idioms that express different levels of anger, from mild irritation to intense fury. These idioms capture feelings of frustration, surprise, and madness.
They also describe energetic reactions and the colorful expressions of getting angry, like “blowing a fuse” or “seeing red.” Whether it’s describing a hot-headed man or a spitting mad girl, these idioms provide vivid imagery. I will also cover idioms for staying calm amidst anger.
This list will help you understand and use these expressions in everyday conversations.
List of 30 idioms for anger
- Blow a fuse
- Hit the roof
- Hot under the collar
- See red
- Fly off the handle
- Boil over
- Get one’s back up
- Go ballistic
- Have a short fuse
- Blow one’s top
- Mad as a hornet
- Fit to be tied
- Bent out of shape
- Spitting nails
- Ticked off
- Riled up
- Sore loser
- Grumpy old man
- Hell hath no fury
- She-devil
- Spitting mad
- On the warpath
- Blow a gasket
- Full of piss and vinegar
- On edge
- Hot-headed
- Blow hot and cold
- Cool as a cucumber
- Keep one’s cool
- Calm before the storm
Common Idioms for Anger
Blow a fuse
Meaning: Lose temper.
Example: He blew a fuse when he saw the mess.
Hit the roof
Meaning: Get very angry.
Example: Mom hit the roof when I broke her vase.
Hot under the collar
Meaning: Feeling angry.
Example: She got hot under the collar during the debate.
See red
Meaning: Become very angry.
Example: I saw red when he insulted my friend.
Fly off the handle
Meaning: Suddenly get very angry.
Example: He flew off the handle when accused.
Boil over
Meaning: Emotions get out of control.
Example: Her anger boiled over after the argument.
Good Idioms for Anger
Get one’s back up
Meaning: Become annoyed.
Example: He got his back up over the criticism.
Go ballistic
Meaning: Get extremely angry.
Example: She went ballistic over the late delivery.
Have a short fuse
Meaning: Be quick to anger.
Example: He has a short fuse and often snaps.
Blow one’s top
Meaning: Explode with anger.
Example: She blew her top when the kids fought.
Funny Idioms for Anger
Mad as a hornet
Meaning: Very angry.
Example: He was mad as a hornet after the prank.
Fit to be tied
Meaning: Extremely upset.
Example: She was fit to be tied over the parking ticket.
Bent out of shape
Meaning: Upset or agitated.
Example: Don’t get bent out of shape over small things.
Spitting nails
Meaning: Very angry.
Example: He was spitting nails after the bad news.
Idioms for Angry Person
Ticked off
Meaning: Annoyed or irritated.
Example: She was ticked off by his rude comment.
Riled up
Meaning: Agitated or excited.
Example: The news got him riled up.
Sore loser
Meaning: Gets angry when losing.
Example: He’s such a sore loser after games.
Grumpy old man
Meaning: Always angry.
Example: Don’t mind him, he’s just a grumpy old man.
Idioms for Angry Girl
Hell hath no fury
Meaning: A woman’s anger.
Example: Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
She-devil
Meaning: Very angry woman.
Example: She turned into a she-devil when crossed.
Spitting mad
Meaning: Extremely angry.
Example: She was spitting mad at the betrayal.
On the warpath
Meaning: Angry and looking for a fight.
Example: She’s on the warpath today, so beware.
Idioms for Angry Man
Blow a gasket
Meaning: Get very angry.
Example: He blew a gasket when he lost the bet.
Full of piss and vinegar
Meaning: Energetic and angry.
Example: He’s always full of piss and vinegar.
On edge
Meaning: Irritable or nervous.
Example: He’s been on edge since the incident.
Hot-headed
Meaning: Quick to anger.
Example: He’s a hot-headed guy, so be careful.
Idioms for Angry and Calm
Blow hot and cold
Meaning: Alternate between anger and calm.
Example: He blows hot and cold in every situation.
Cool as a cucumber
Meaning: Very calm.
Example: She remained cool as a cucumber despite the chaos.
Keep one’s cool
Meaning: Stay calm.
Example: He managed to keep his cool during the crisis.
Calm before the storm
Meaning: Peace before chaos.
Example: It was the calm before the storm at the office.
What are some common idioms used to describe anger?
Common idioms for anger include “blow a fuse,” “hit the roof,” and “see red.” These expressions vividly convey feelings of frustration and irritation when someone gets very angry.
How can idioms help describe an angry person?
Idioms like “ticked off,” “riled up,” and “grumpy old man” are useful for describing someone who is frequently angry or irritated. They add color and specificity to descriptions of people’s emotional states.
Are there idioms that describe both anger and calmness?
Yes, idioms such as “blow hot and cold” and “calm before the storm” capture the fluctuating nature of emotions. They describe situations where anger and calmness alternate or precede each other.
Conclusion
In this article, I shared 30 idioms related to anger. From common expressions like “blow a fuse” to unique descriptions of an angry person, these idioms help capture the complexity of anger. They range from funny to serious, and even cover the transition between anger and calm. Understanding these idioms enriches our language and allows us to express emotions more vividly.
