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Glite Dictionary
to blow one's top

to blow one's top

8.0
To suddenly become very angry
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : perder la calma
  • When the manager found out about the mistake, he really blew his top at the team.

Examples

Synonyms

to lose it
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
289 7.5

Suddenly stop controlling your feelings and become very angry or upset

is sudden anger that may not mean total emotional collapse
to explode
vsto blow one's top
187 3.5

To suddenly show a strong feeling, often anger

is sudden anger specifically rather than any strong emotion
to flip
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
143 7.5

To suddenly become very angry, excited, or surprised

is sudden anger specifically rather than varied emotions
to flip out
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
49 7.2

To suddenly lose control and become very angry or upset

is sudden anger specifically rather than other strong emotions
to go ballistic
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
22 7.5

Suddenly become very angry

is sudden anger that may be less explosive or forceful
to throw a tantrum
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
18 4.4

To show sudden strong anger or upset, often like a child

is sudden anger that may be less uncontrolled or dramatic
to blow up
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
16 4.7

To suddenly become very angry and lose control

is sudden anger that may be less openly forceful
to have a fit
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
16 5.3

To suddenly become very angry or upset and show it strongly

is sudden anger that may be less outwardly displayed
to throw a fit
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
12 6.1

To suddenly become very angry or upset in a loud, obvious way

is sudden anger that may be less dramatic or noticeable
to fly off the handle
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
11 6.8

To suddenly become very angry

is sudden anger that may not always involve total loss of control
to see red
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
10 6.8

To become very angry suddenly

is sudden anger that could be less intensely furious
to fly off
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
7 5.3

To suddenly get very angry without warning

is sudden anger that might follow some build up rather than none
to boil over
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
7 4.8

To suddenly lose control and show strong anger

is sudden anger that may not involve full loss of self control
to froth at the mouth
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
5 8.6

To be extremely angry and unable to control oneself

is sudden anger that may be more controlled or less extreme
to hit the roof
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
4 6.7

To suddenly become very angry

is sudden anger that may be less extremely furious
to combust
vsto blow one's top
4 8.2

To become suddenly very angry and lose control

is sudden anger that may be less eruptive
to hit the ceiling
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
3 6.8

To suddenly get very angry

is sudden anger that might not reach such high intensity
to lose one's temper
vsto blow one's top
2 3.7

To suddenly become very angry and not be able to control yourself

is sudden anger that may not involve complete loss of control
to blow one's stack
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
2 8.6

Suddenly get very angry and show it

is sudden anger that can be strong but not necessarily extreme
to raise the roof
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
1 8.0

Get very angry and shout loudly

is sudden anger that may be quieter or less forceful
to blow a fuse
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
1 7.4

To suddenly become very angry

is sudden anger that may be less intensely enraged
to pop off
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
1 8.1

To suddenly say something angry without warning

is sudden anger that may not include abrupt speech
to flip your lid
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
1 8.6

To suddenly become very angry and lose control

is sudden anger that may be less about total emotional loss
to flip shit
vsto blow one's top
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To suddenly become very angry

is sudden anger that may be less abrupt or extreme
to go off on one
vsto blow one's top
  • UK
1 9.9

To suddenly get very angry and speak loudly for a long time

is sudden anger that is usually shorter and less prolonged
to flip one's lid
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
9.1

To become suddenly very angry and lose control

is sudden anger that may be less about total emotional loss
to flip one's wig
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
9.9

To suddenly become very angry and lose control of yourself

is sudden anger that may be less extreme or not lose control
to lose one's shit
vsto blow one's top
  • Offensive
9.9

To suddenly become very angry or upset in a way you cannot control

is sudden anger that may be less extremely overwhelming
to lose one's cool
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
5.9

To suddenly become very angry and fail to control your feelings

is sudden anger that may occur without stress
to throw a snit
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
8.7

To suddenly become very angry or upset and act childishly

is sudden anger that is not necessarily childish or exaggerated
to throw a wobbly
vsto blow one's top
  • UK
9.9

To become suddenly very angry and upset in a dramatic way

is sudden anger that may be briefer or less dramatic
to radge over
vsto blow one's top
  • UK
9.9

Get very angry or upset about small things

is sudden anger that is not limited to small triggers
to flip the bitch switch
vsto blow one's top
  • Offensive
9.9

To suddenly become very angry and behave in a mean way

is sudden anger that may be less aggressive or confrontational
to hit the bitch switch
vsto blow one's top
  • Offensive
9.9

To suddenly become very angry and act aggressive

is sudden anger that may not include aggressive confrontation
to bridle up
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
9.1

To react angrily and show offended pride when criticized

is sudden anger that may involve full loss of control rather than a sharp reaction
to bristle up
vsto blow one's top
7.9

Show sudden anger, often by becoming tense in the face or voice

is sudden anger that may involve a deeper loss of control rather than a brief display
to burst a blood vessel
vsto blow one's top
  • Informal
6.9

To become very angry or upset in a way people notice

is sudden anger that may not appear so visibly dramatic

Antonyms

to keep a cool head
3 3.9

Stay calm and not get angry or excited in a difficult situation

How Angry

to go ballistic
  • Informal
22 7.5
to blow one's top
  • Informal
8.0
irritated
44 3.1
annoyed
77 1.0

Surface Forms

blow one's top infinitive
blowing one's top present participle
blows one's top third person singular
blew one's top past
blown one's top past participle

Morphology

blow + one's + top

The components 'blow' (to forcefully expel) and 'top' (the uppermost part) create a clear physical image of something at the top bursting, so a learner who knows the words could plausibly infer a figurative loss of control. However, mapping that image to the specific meaning 'suddenly become very angry' is metaphorical and not strictly compositional; the expression relies on idiomatic convention and cultural usage, making it only partially predictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The idiom blow one's top may come from the picture of a boiling kettle or a volcano: when blow is like steam and the top is the lid, the steam suddenly bursts out. So, if someone 'blows their top', they suddenly become very angry.