short fuse

noun

1. a quick temper:

   A person with a short fuse has to be handled diplomatically.

short fuse

noun

1. informal.
   a quick temper

Word History and Origins

Origin of short fuse¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

There is a short fuse and a certain explosion at the end of this piece of treachery.

From The Daily Beast

He had a short fuse and would sometimes berate her when she spoke too much to Gluck.

From The Daily Beast

With everyone on such a short fuse, no Obama Sunday talk marathon is going to calm anyone down.

From The Daily Beast

I offered to show them how to throw a smoke bomb, and they gave me one with an extra short fuse.

From Project Gutenberg

Besides the alarm, theres a little surprise on a short fuse.

From Project Gutenberg

Don't treat business as though it were a lighted fire-cracker with a short fuse.

From Project Gutenberg

The next moment Dan had held the end of the short fuse he had provided to the candle, and a slight spluttering began.

From Project Gutenberg

I used only a third of a stick—you know, short fuse, with the end split so as to hold the head of a safety match.

From Project Gutenberg