How can you describe someone who is angry? These words and expressions can be used to describe different strengths of anger, from mild anger to rage.
Mild anger
grumpy = someone who is often in a bad mood and complains a lot (esp old people): "He's such a grumpy old man!"
crotchety = someone who is easily irritated: "I hate it when you're in a crotchety mood."
irritated = when something makes you a bit angry: "To be honest, I'm a bit irritated with my husband. He promised me dinner, then told me he had to work late."
annoyed = irritated: "He really annoyed me, talking through the film."
snappy = when you are in a bad mood and speak sharply to people: "She's in a very snappy mood today."
cross = angry: "It makes me very cross when people don't stop at the pedestrian crossing."
get out of bed on the wrong side = wake up in a bad mood: "Don't expect any sympathy from Joe. He got out of bed on the wrong side this morning."
be rubbed up the wrong way = to be put in a bad mood by someone: "Don't worry too much about him. He was rubbed up the wrong way when we started talking about promotion."
get up your nose = irritates: "It really gets up my nose when they start talking about football."
get hot under the collar = become angry: "He got really hot under the collar when he couldn't buy a train ticket."
be in a strop / stroppy: easily angered: "She's turning into a stroppy teenager."
Very angry
pissed off (British slang) = angry: "I was really pissed off by her attitude."
furious = very angry: "She was furious when he told her the news."
livid = very angry: "I was absolutely livid when I found out."
in a black mood = be very angry: "He always gets in a black mood when he sees his team lose."
spitting mad = be very angry: "He got me spitting mad!"
see red = be uncontrollably angry: "When I realised she was lying, I just saw red."
like a red rag to a bull = provoke someone to anger: "Talking about politics is like a red rag to a bull to him."
be in a foul mood = be in a bad mood: "She was in a foul mood all last week."
Your reactions
What can you say to someone who is mildly angry?
Keep your hair on! (Don't lose your temper.)
Calm down!
Take it easy!
Don't let it get to you. = don't let something make you angry.
Turn the other cheek. = Ignore it.
Don't get your knickers in a twist! (British slang) = Don't let it affect you.
12 comments on “Talking about anger in English”
Dear Clare,
In last line, I am a bit confused. "Don't let it affect you" or "Don't let it affects you." Which of them is correct?
Hi Behnam
It should be "Don't let it affect you". "Let", like "make" is followed by the infinitive of the verb without to.
Can I use' like a red scarf to a bull' instead of 'like a red rag to a bull'
I've never heard this expression, but I think it would be OK. It certainly makes sense.
Does this "Don't get under my skin" mean "Don't make me angry"?
It could do. If you get under someone's skin, you get to them in some way or other. Perhaps you could make them angry, or perhaps you could just make them always think about you.
Hello, I am an American, and thse are my comments on the above.
"Pissed off" is not British slang. It's used in America frequently as well.
Cross is rarely used.
"like a red rag to a bull" is not used anywhere in America that I've been. So must be an expression elsewhere.
"be in a strop" Never heard this before in my life. Where on earth is this used?
Thanks for your comments Mark. "Be in a strop" must be only British English, then. We'd say, for example, "She's in a right strop!"
When you see red doesn't that mean you see danger ahead?
No, it means you are angry.
i am in a blackmood now with the speed of my internet connection
What about expressions like "hot temper", vexed etc. Can these be used to express anger.
Abdul Rahman ยป Yes, you can.
This one's great :D
Anyway, when do you use this expression…
"Give me a break!"
When you've had enough of someone, or when you don't believe them.
what about these expressions:
"Im out of humor today"..if its correct, is it formal or informal?
"I hate them, they always try to tease me"..
"im in a bad temper/mood"
when to use temper and when to use mood??
" my friend's father always treats her wrongly&harshly and deprive her from going outside, but my outraged friend never miss to contact me"
is there any mistake in my example, and is "outraged" correct?
1. I wouldn't use this expression – it sounds old-fashioned to me. Instead, I'd use "I'm out of sorts today".
2. OK
3. Both are fine. Bad temper suggests anger, while bad mood just suggests you're not particularly happy.
4. First part is fine, but "outraged" sounds strange.
" my friend's father always treats her wrongly&harshly and stops her going outside, but she always manages to contact me"
