mad as a cut snake

9.9

Feeling extremely angry and acting wildly

idiom

Australian

: furioso como una serpiente cortada

The manager was mad as a cut snake after discovering the missing funds.

Examples

When she found out he had lied to her, she was mad as a cut snake.
That bastard Tanaka's as mad as a cut snake.

Return from the River Kwai (1989)
After losing the important game, the coach was mad as a cut snake.

Synonyms

mad

vsmad as a cut snake

∞ 1.0

Feeling angry or upset with someone

is more extreme by adding wild, irrational behaviour to anger

furious

vsmad as a cut snake

238 3.0

Very angry and ready to shout or complain

focuses more on chaotic, irrational behaviour caused by anger

pissed off

vsmad as a cut snake

Informal

197 8.6

Very angry or annoyed

adds uncontrolled, wild behaviour as a distinguishing feature

outraged

vsmad as a cut snake

27 4.1

Feeling very angry and shocked because something seems unfair

is angrier in behaviour, showing wild irrational responses rather than only shock

irate

vsmad as a cut snake

23 5.3

Very angry and showing it

is harsher in behaviour, showing irrational or wild actions

livid

vsmad as a cut snake

19 5.5

Very angry and hard to calm

adds uncontrolled, wild conduct as a key feature

raving mad

vsmad as a cut snake

Informal

7 7.2

Acting or speaking in a wild, not sensible way

is anger that specifically causes frantic or irrational acting

hot under the collar

vsmad as a cut snake

Informal

5 7.1

Very angry or annoyed because someone criticizes you

is angrier and likely to act wildly or irrationally from anger

ticked off

vsmad as a cut snake

Informal

5 7.9

Feeling angry or annoyed about something

is far more extreme, involving irrational or wild actions

rageful

vsmad as a cut snake

1 4.8

Feeling very angry and likely to shout or lose control

is the same but stresses wild, irrational acting from anger

infuriated

vsmad as a cut snake

1 4.5

Feeling very angry because someone treated you unfairly

is similar but specifically involves wild or irrational actions

pissed

vsmad as a cut snake

Informal

1 8.4

Feeling very angry or annoyed

is similar but implies more wild, irrational acting from anger

raging

vsmad as a cut snake

1 3.9

Very strong and intense, often violent and out of control

is about intense anger that also causes wild behaviour

mad as a meat axe

vsmad as a cut snake

Archaic

1 9.9

Very angry and acting without thinking

is the same furious anger but stressing irrational behaviour

mad as a wet hen

vsmad as a cut snake

Informal

1 9.8

Very angry or upset

includes behaving wildly or irrationally as a central feature

boiling mad

vsmad as a cut snake

Informal

1 4.8

Feeling very angry

is angrier still, with wild or irrational outward behaviour

apoplectic with rage

vsmad as a cut snake

8.8

Very angry and unable to control your words or actions

is angry and also behaves wildly and irrationally because of anger

enraged

vsmad as a cut snake

4.1

Very angry and likely to act violently

adds wild, irrational behaviour to that intense anger

maddened

vsmad as a cut snake

5.2

Very angry and acting out of control

is similar but emphasizes furious irrationality caused by anger

rip-snorting mad

vsmad as a cut snake

Informal

9.5

Being very angry and hard to calm

is the same extreme anger but with more wild acting

mad as a mongoose

vsmad as a cut snake

Informal

9.9

Very angry and unable to stay calm

is more about uncontrolled, wild actions driven by anger

mad as hops

vsmad as a cut snake

Archaic

9.9

Feeling very angry and showing it

adds the idea of wild or irrational conduct to that anger

madding

vsmad as a cut snake

Archaic

9.9

Wild and noisy in a way that makes people feel upset

is anger that specifically links to wild irrational behaviour

wild as a wet hen

vsmad as a cut snake

Informal

9.4

Feeling very angry and upset

is more about frantic, wild acting because of anger

angered

vsmad as a cut snake

2.5

Feeling very furious because someone did something unfair or rude

is angrier in a way that causes wild or irrational actions

mad enough to chew nails

vsmad as a cut snake

Archaic

9.9

Very angry and ready to do something extreme

is about extreme anger that causes wild irrational behaviour

in a radge

vsmad as a cut snake

Slang

9.9

Feeling very angry and annoyed

is similar but adds chaotic, irrational behaviour caused by anger

angry as a wet hen

vsmad as a cut snake

9.9

Feeling very angry and upset

adds wild or irrational acting as a central characteristic

Antonyms

calm

735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

How Angry

mad as a cut snake

Australian

9.9

furious

238 3.0

angry

∞ 1.0

annoyed

77 1.0

irritated

44 3.1

Surface Forms

mad as a cut snake positive

Morphology

mad + as + a + cut + snake

The simile pattern 'mad as a ...' and the presence of 'mad' and the comparative 'as' allow a learner to infer it expresses anger or intense upset, so part of the meaning is recoverable from the constituents. However, 'cut snake' is a culture-specific metaphor (Australian) and the literal words 'cut' + 'snake' do not automatically convey the exact notion of extreme, wild anger without prior exposure, making the full meaning only partly predictable.

Etymology

Mad as a cut snake comes from the image of a snake that has been cut and then twists and thrashes wildly. That's why the phrase paints a strong picture of someone being 'extremely angry' or behaving 'wild' today.