blow a fuse

Idioms and Phrases

Also, blow a gasket . Lose one's temper, express furious anger. For example, When his paycheck bounced, John blew a fuse , or Tell Mom what really happened before she blows a gasket . An electric fuse is said to “blow” (melt) when the circuit is overloaded, whereas a gasket, used to seal a piston, “blows” (breaks) when the pressure is too high. The first of these slangy terms dates from the 1930s, the second from the 1940s. Also see blow one's top ; keep one's cool .

Example Sentences

His arms are folded tight and he looks ready to blow a fuse.

From Literature

What a pity the Serbia striker blew a fuse at Old Trafford.

From BBC

She knew what to do when we blew a fuse, how often the gutters should be cleared, and why the neighbours screamed at their television on weekends in winter – “the Rabbitohs are losing again”.

From The Guardian

If you’re concerned about fumes, blowing a fuse or the energy required to run the cycle, skip it.

From Seattle Times

Since then, he has run two to three 20-mile runs a week in his parents’ basement, with the space heaters cranked up until he blew a fuse and had to rearrange the outlets.

From The Guardian

Related Words

• blow up
• boil over
• erupt
• rampage
• roar
• seethe
• tear