Hot under the collar
English Idiom
Meaning: When someone becomes extremely annoyed or angry, often in a noticeable way, they are considered to be 'hot under the collar.' This reaction can be due to a specific situation or comment that triggers their frustration.
Origin: The idiom 'hot under the collar' originates from the early 20th century. It refers to the physical sensation of heat around the neck area when someone is angry, a time when men commonly wore starched collars. The phrase metaphorically links this physical reaction with the emotion of anger.
Examples
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After being falsely accused in the meeting, John was visibly hot under the collar and struggled to keep his composure.
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Sarah gets hot under the collar every time someone interrupts her during a presentation.
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Michael was hot under the collar when he found out that his colleagues were spreading rumors about him.
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The customer became hot under the collar when she realized her order was delayed without any notification.
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Whenever politics comes up, my uncle gets hot under the collar and starts ranting passionately.
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The coach was hot under the collar after the referee made a controversial call that cost the team the game.
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You could tell Mark was hot under the collar by the way his face turned red and his voice grew louder.
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She became hot under the collar when her boss criticized her work in front of the entire office.
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During the heated debate, several participants got hot under the collar and exchanged sharp words.
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The usually calm professor got hot under the collar when a student challenged his authority in class.
