blow a fuse
Meaning(s)
1. lose one's temper; get really angry
Popularity
Medium
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
going to blow a fuse
Analysis
A fuse is a circuit breaker used to protect a circuit in electrical components. If a 'fuse is blown' it means the fuse overloads the circuit causing the fuse to break. If a person 'blows a fuse' it refers to them losing their temper or becoming enraged: "My mother is going to blow a fuse when she finds out we broke the vase!" This is an informal phrase you can hear in lots of different situations. Similar to 'lose the head' and 'blow a gasket'.
Social Examples (Basic)
- I was going to blow a fuse if they kept insulting me.
- When I told her that her favourite shirt had been ruined, she blew a fuse.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- My Manager blew a fuse when I said I was leaving. It was the middle of the busiest shopping period.
- The client is going to blow a fuse if this isn't delivered on time. They have a tight deadline.