Idioms for IELTS
Lesson 3
Anger and irritation
- go through the roof or hit the roof
If someone goes through the roof or hits the roof, they suddenly become very angry, and usually show their anger by shouting at someone. [INFORMAL]
Example: When I told my mother she went through the roof. She took one look at my hair and hit the roof.
- have a chip on your shoulder
If someone has a chip on their shoulder, they feel angry and resentful because they think that they have been treated unfairly, especially because of their background. [SPOKEN]
Example: She thinks he has a chip on his shoulder because he didn’t go to university.
- have a fit or throw a fit
If someone has a fit or throws a fit, they become very angry and upset.
Example: Mum will have a fit when she hears about this.
Example: She threw a fit when she found me in the dressing room.
4.lose it
If someone loses it, they become extremely angry or upset. [INFORMAL]
Example: I completely lost it. I was shouting and swearing.
- make your blood boil
If something makes your blood boil, it makes you very angry.
Example: It makes my blood boil. He doesn’t like talking to the players but he wants his opinions known.
6.a pain in the neck
If someone or something is a pain in the neck, they are very annoying. [INFORMAL]
Example: He was a pain in the neck. I was glad when he left my department.
Example: ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘They’ve forgotten to insure the car. It’s a pain in the neck, but what can I do?’
- a sore point or a sore spot
You can say that a subject is a sore point with someone or a sore spot for them if it makes them feel angry, embarrassed, or upset.
Example: The continuing presence of foreign troops remains a very sore point with these students.
Example: Slow job growth is a sore spot for the President.
I NOTE I If you touch or hit someone’s sore point or sore spot, you mention a subject which makes them feel angry, embarrassed, or upset.
Example: The mention of Jim Kennerly had touched her sore spot.
Example: It was clear by his expression that my question had hit a sore point .
- bite someone’s head off or snap someone’s head off
If someone bites your head off or snaps your head off, they speak to you in an unpleasant, angry way, because they are annoyed about something. [INFORMAL]
Example: Don’t bite my head off just because you’re fed up!
- blow a fuse
If you blow a fuse, you suddenly lose your temper and cannot control your anger.
I NOTE I A fuse is a safety device found in electrical equipment. If the equipment becomes too hot, the fuse blows, or burns. This breaks the electrical circuit, so that the equipment will stop working.
Example: He’s going to blow a fuse when he finds out about Miller.
- a dirty look or a filthy look
If someone gives you a dirty look or a filthy look, they look at you in a way that shows that they are very angry about something.
Example: Tony was being really annoying. Michael gave him a dirty look and walked out of the kitchen.
- drive someone up the wall
If something or someone drives you up the wall, they annoy you very much. [INFORMAL]
Example: He’s so uncooperative he’s beginning to drive me up the wall.
- a face like thunder
If someone has a face like thunder, they look extremely angry. [BRITISH]
Example: The kitchen had flooded and Mick was raging around the house with a face like thunder.
13.fly off the handle
If you fly off the handle, you suddenly become very angry. [INFORMAL]
Example: When I finally managed to speak to him, he flew off the handle and shouted down the phone.
- give someone hell
If someone gives you hell, they make your life very unpleasant by behaving badly towards you.
Example: Their younger son gives them hell.
If you say that someone gives you hell, they shout at you or speak to you angrily because you have done something wrong.
Example: I got home three hours late and my mum gave me hell.
Exercise 1
Complete the sentences with the words in the box.
up I on I in I off I through I off
- His stupid jokes drive me…………..the wall.
- My sister will go……………..the roof when she finds out.
- I was surprised when she bit my head………………
- Lourdes is always flying………………….the handle at her husband.
- There’s a boy in our class who’s a real pain……………….the neck.
- I think you’ve got a bit of a chip…………….your shoulder.