Flipping Out: 13 Ways to Express Anger in English
Anger is one of our most basic emotions. And just like happiness or sadness, it's a feeling that can be described in a variety of ways.
This time, we'll focus on some useful alternative words as well as a few idioms that are often used to talk about this powerful emotion.
Words for Anger
Irritated / Annoyed
These two words are like lighter versions of "angry." Someone who is irritated or annoyed is probably not yelling or screaming — at least not yet!
- The line was full of annoyed customers waiting to speak to a representative.
- My girlfriend always gets irritated by the barking from our neighbor’s dog.
Upset
“Upset” is a very useful word because in addition to anger, it can also refer to other negative emotions, such as sadness or depression. You'll need to pay attention to the context to understand which meaning is appropriate for the situation.
- I really get upset when my roommate borrows my things without asking me first.
In the sentence above, "upset" represents a feeling close to anger.
- I’m upset about what I said to you earlier. I’m sorry.
Here, it is closer to sadness or regret.
Unhappy
Just like “upset,” this word may or may not actually mean "angry."
- You look unhappy. Is everything OK?
- The manager is very unhappy with the sales numbers from the last quarter.
Mad
“Mad” is a simple and casual way to talk about anger.
- Thomas has a quick temper, so he can get mad quite easily.
- I hope you’re not mad about what happened last week.
In British English, this word is often used to mean “crazy” or “insane.”
- When Jules said she was moving to France, I thought she was mad.
Livid
This word describes extreme anger.
- The customer on the phone is livid about the mistake with his order.
Pissed
"Pissed" is very informal, so be careful where and when you use it.
- Kevin was pissed we didn’t invite him to the party.
“Pissed off” is also a common term.
- The way she interrupts me when I’m speaking really pisses me off.
Please note that the usages above represent American English. In British English, the adjective "pissed" refers to being drunk, and the phrasal verb "piss off" is a very rude way of saying "go away."
- My roommate came home totally pissed from a night of drinking.
- Piss off, you noisy kids.
Related article: How Are UK and US Communication Styles Different?
Idioms
Seeing red
The color red is usually connected with intense feelings, such as love. However, negative feelings like anger can be intense as well. So when someone is "seeing red," it's like anger has taken over their mind.
- My neighbor was seeing red when we accidentally hit a baseball through his kitchen window.
In the 2015 Disney movie Inside Out, a little girl’s emotions are represented by four different characters; the character of Anger is a small man with red skin and fire for hair!
Hit the roof
If you imagine someone becoming so angry that they explode and hit their head on the roof, you will understand the nuance behind this expression. (Yes, "hit the ceiling" would probably be more accurate, but that's not what people say!)
- My parents will hit the roof if we don’t clean up this mess before they come back.
Flip out
Just like "hit the roof," use this phrasal verb to talk about someone becoming very angry.
- The customer flipped out when he saw the bill for his car repairs.
Ruffle feathers
“Ruffle” is a verb that means to rub your hands over something in a way that causes it to become messy. “Ruffling someone’s feathers,” however, is behaving in a way that makes someone angry or annoyed.
Notice that the other words and expressions in this article focus on the person who is angry, but this idiom focuses on the person who causes someone's anger.
- His controversial statement will definitely ruffle a lot of people's feathers.
Lose one’s cool
Some people can remain calm on the outside even though they may be feeling strong emotions inside. But most people cannot remain calm forever; once a situation has become too intense, they may “lose their cool” and show their anger or frustration.
- The student sleeping in the back of the classroom made the professor lose his cool.
Snap
Just like someone losing their cool, a person "snaps" in the moment they change from calm to angry.
- When I saw the look on his face, I knew he was about to snap.
Wrap-Up
As we've learned here, we can describe anger simply or in colorful language that includes more nuance. Learn these alternatives so that the next time someone flips out, you'll have the right vocabulary to talk about it!
In the meantime, you can also read the following articles, which are all about other alternatives to other common words and expressions:
