In the following article, we provide you with 21 idioms describing feelings (Anger, Frustration & Annoyed) in IELTS Speaking. These are also short, practical idioms clusters, which are used extensively in the IELTS test.
- (to be) at your wit’s end
Meaning: to be angry, worried, or upset by something and not know what to do next about the situation
Example: I’ve been trying to calculate the answer to this math problem and I just can’t get the correct answer. I’m really at my wit’s end!
- (to) reach the end of your tether
Meaning: when you have no energy or patience left to deal with a certain situation
Example: I’m really at the end of my tether trying to deal with all these mistakes that my work colleagues have made in this report.
- (to be) sick and tired of something|someone
Meaning: to be annoyed, angry, or upset about something or someone and you can’t tolerate it anymore
Example: I’m so sick and tired of the neighbours next door singing karaoke all night long every weekend!
- (to) go bananas
Meaning: to get very angry (also used when someone gets very excited)
Example: My mother went bananas when she found out I had been skipping school.
- (to) flip your lid
Meaning: to get very angry (similar to go bananas, and flip out)
Example: The teacher flipped her lid when little Timmy wouldn’t stop talking in class.
- (to) flip out
Meaning: to get very angry (similar to go bananas, and flip your lid)
Example: My father flipped out when he realised that I scratched his new car.
- (to) hit the roof (similar to go bananas, and flip your lid)
Meaning: to get very angry, and show your anger by yelling or screaming
Example: My parents hit the roof when they found out that I dropped out of university.
- (to be) hot under the collar
Meaning: to be angry or extremely annoyed by something
Example: Be careful what you say to the boss, he’s a little hot under the collar today.
- (to) freak out
Meaning: to be angry, worried, or scared by something
Example: I was absolutely freaking out (worried) about my upcoming exam because I hadn’t prepared at all.
- (to) blow your top
Meaning: to get very angry (similar to go bananas, and flip your lid)
Example: The boss blew his top when he found out that sales were down by 50% this month, so we really need to work hard this month to catch up.
- (to) get on someone’s nerves
Meaning: when something really irritates or annoys somebody
Example: My little brother really gets on my nerves when he won’t help me do the house chores.
- (to) make your blood boil
Meaning: when something makes you angry or extremely annoyed (similar to get on your nerves but stronger)
Example: The way people drive in this city really makes my blood boil sometimes!
- (to) drive someone crazy|mad
Meaning: when someone is irritated or annoyed by someone or something
Example: Getting stuck in traffic jams during rush hour really drives me crazy! It really drives my neighbours mad when I play my music loudly late at night.
- (to be) cheesed off
Meaning: to be annoyed, irritated, or angry
Example: I was so cheesed off when I received my examination results, because I studied so hard for them
- (to have) a face like thunder
Meaning: when someone has a very angry expression on their face
Example: My father had a face like thunder when he saw the damage that I did to his car
- (to be) like a bear with a sore head
Meaning: to be in a very bad, irritable, or grumpy mood, especially when someone is speaking to others in an angry or rude way
Example: John was like a bear with a sore head this morning. I think he had a bad day yesterday and didn’t sleep well last night.
- (to) bite your tongue
Meaning: to stop yourself from saying something that you really want to, because it might make a situation worse or might offend someone.
Example: I had to bite my tongue during the meeting yesterday, otherwise I would have got myself into trouble.
- (to) fly off the handle
Meaning: to get so angry that you lose control and start yelling and reacting in an angry manner
Example: The school principal flew of the handle when he saw the children graffitiing on the school building
- (to) lose your head|cool|calm
Meaning: when something causes you to get angry
Example: I lost my cool yesterday when the waiter spilt the drinks all over my new dress
- (to) see red
Meaning: to become very angry
Example: I was seeing red last night when my neighbours were singing karaoke until 2am!
- (to) vent your spleen
Meaning: to express your anger
Example: the boss was venting his spleen in the meeting last week because the staff have been quite lazy recently.
