Feelings - Losing One's Temper

Explore English idioms that relate to losing one's temper with examples like "go ballistic" and "hot under the collar".

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to [throw] a (wobbly|wobbler) [phrase]

to get extremely angry, upset, or frustrated and behave in an uncontrolled manner

Ex: Yesterday , she threw a wobbly when she found out about the mistake in her order .

to [rant] and [rave] [phrase]

to display one's anger or frustration by complaining or shouting, particularly for a while

Ex: Yesterday , he ranted and raved about the poor customer service he received at the restaurant .

to [scream|shout] (blue|bloody) murder [phrase]

to show one's disagreement, complaint, pain, or anger by shouting or screaming very loudly and in length

Ex: Yesterday , he screamed bloody murder after accidentally breaking his favorite vase .

a short fuse [phrase]

one's tendency to suddenly become enraged due to having low tolerance

Ex: Yesterday , he had a short fuse and got into an argument with his coworker over a small disagreement .

to [go] through the roof [phrase]

to become extremely angry, agitated, or upset

Ex: He went through the roof when he found out about the betrayal .

worked up [phrase]

(of a person) very angry or upset about something unpleasant that has happened

Ex: The customer became worked up when the restaurant messed up their order and refused to fix it .

(as|) red as a cherry [phrase]

used to refer to a situation in which one becomes extremely angry, causing one's face to turn red

Ex: When he heard the news , his face turned red as a cherry with anger .

to [make] {one's} hackles rise [phrase]

to do something that makes someone become extremely angry

Ex: When she heard the false accusation , it made her hackles rise with anger .

to [see] red [phrase]

to suddenly become enraged and uncontrollably angry

Ex: When she found out about the betrayal , she saw red and confronted the person immediately .

(as|) mad as a hornet [phrase]

used to describe someone who suddenly becomes very angry and is unable to stay calm

Ex: When she discovered the betrayal , she was mad as a hornet and confronted the person immediately .

to [fly] off the handle [phrase]

to suddenly become angry

Ex: When he heard the news , he flew off the handle and shouted at everyone in the room .

to [blow] a (fuse|gasket) [phrase]

to suddenly lose one's temper and become extremely angry

Ex: Yesterday , he blew a gasket when he discovered that his car had been scratched by someone in the parking lot .

to [foam|froth] at the mouth [phrase]

to become extremely furious about something

Ex: Yesterday , he foamed at the mouth during the argument , shouting insults and slamming doors in frustration .

hot under the collar [phrase]

extremely furious or upset

Ex: Yesterday , he got hot under the collar when he found out that his work had been criticized in front of his colleagues .

fit to be tied [phrase]

(of a person) severely irritated or enraged

Ex: Yesterday , she was fit to be tied when she discovered her car had been towed without any warning .

to [go] ballistic [phrase]

to suddenly become extremely angry

Ex: Yesterday , he went ballistic when he discovered his car had been scratched by a careless driver .

to [do] {one's} nut [phrase]

to become really angry in a way that causes one to act uncontrollably

Ex: Yesterday , he did his nut when he discovered that his car had been towed without any warning .

Feelings
Happiness	Excitement	Sadness or Discontent	Unhappiness & Disappointment
Anger	Rage	Losing One's Temper	Annoyance
Irritation	Fear & Terror	Anticipation	Shame & Embarrassment