Blow a Fuse: Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide

Meaning 1：lose one's temper (Blow a fuse)

Blow a fuse 🔊

/bloʊ ə fjuːz/

phr. v.

To suddenly become very angry or lose control of one's emotions, often over something small.

Blow a fuse idiom illustration showing angry person with broken fuse

lose one's temper 🔊

➕

/luːz wʌnz ˈtɛmpər/

phr. v.

To suddenly become very angry or lose control of one's emotions, often over something small.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From electrical fuse blowing metaphor: emotional overload causes sudden anger.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine your head is a fuse box. Anger overload blows the fuse, causing an angry explosion.

📖 Example

My dad blew a fuse when he saw the messy living room after the party. 🔊 My dad blew a fuse when he saw the messy living room after the party.

🔗 Collocations

blow a fuse over – become extremely angry about something

blow a fuse at – become very angry with someone

really blow a fuse – become extremely angry

🔄 Synonyms

lose one's temper (phr.) – to become suddenly angry

fly off the handle (phr.) – to lose self-control and become very angry

go ballistic (phr.) – to become extremely angry and react violently

🚫 Antonyms

keep one's cool (phr.) – to remain calm in a stressful situation

stay calm (v. phr.) – to not become angry

remain composed (v. phr.) – to maintain emotional control and stability

📖 Cultural Story

Emerged from early 1900s home electrical fuses; a blown fuse cuts electricity. The phrase metaphorizes emotional overload leading to a sudden explosion of anger.