to keep one's temper

Examples

• All

• When confronted with criticism, he found it difficult to keep his temper under control.

• Scarlett kept her temper, but her eyes were dangerously bright.

  Fiction book (1991)

• I kept my temper and merely asked to be shown the error of my ways.

  Luther (2003)

• "Edward struggled to keep his temper in check."

  Fiction book (2000)

• I don't know how you kept your temper just now, sir.

  Living (2022)

• He kept his temper and asked the next question.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Keep your temper.

  Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972)

• Nkosi's frown was deeper now, but he kept his temper well in check.

  Fiction book (1990)

• "Catch this!" Joze said through clenched teeth, forcing himself to keep his temper.

  Fiction book (1993)

• He struggled to keep his temper while waiting for the slow service at the restaurant.

Synonyms

S

to stay in control

vsto keep one's temper

• US

264 3.7

Keep power over a situation and stay calm

often means not becoming angry rather than keeping control of a situation

H

to hold it together

vsto keep one's temper

• Informal

61 5.6

Stay calm and control your feelings in a difficult situation

places emphasis on not becoming angry rather than merely staying controlled

C

to cool it

vsto keep one's temper

• Informal

55 6.2

To calm down and stop being angry or excited

means staying calm and avoiding anger rather than calming down afterwards

K

to keep one's cool

vsto keep one's temper

• Informal

30 3.4

Stay calm and control your feelings when things are hard

aims more at not becoming angry than general emotional control

K

to keep it together

vsto keep one's temper

• Informal

27 5.4

To stay calm and control your feelings in a difficult situation

focuses specifically on preventing anger rather than general emotional management

P

to play it cool

vsto keep one's temper

• Informal

27 4.5

Act calm and relaxed to hide nervousness

aims more at not becoming angry than projecting composed social calm

K

to keep a cool head

vsto keep one's temper

3 3.9

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

focuses on avoiding anger rather than avoiding excitement

H

to hold one's nerve

vsto keep one's temper

• Informal

5.5

To stay calm and in control during a difficult situation

focuses more on avoiding anger than on steady emotional control

K

to keep one's head

vsto keep one's temper

4.6

Stay calm and think clearly in a difficult or dangerous situation

focuses on avoiding anger rather than on clear thinking under pressure

Antonyms

L

to lose one's temper

2 3.7

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

How Calm

to keep one's cool

• Informal

30 3.4

to keep one's temper

1 4.4

to play it cool

• Informal

27 4.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology