English Idiom – (Be) Like a bear with a sore head

Meaning – To be extremely angry, annoyed, or irritable. The idiom ‘like a bear with a sore head‘ is used to describe someone who is in a very bad mood and is very irritable. It implies that the person is grumpy and easily angered.

Usage:

When could you use this idiom?

  • Your parents are grumpy because your sister kept them awake all night.
  • A friend is suffering from a particular unpleasant hangover.
  • You are warning your classmates to avoid a grumpy teacher!

Example:

  • “She’s always like a bear with a sore head in the morning. Only a nice cuppa can cheer her up!”

In The News:

Discuss:

  • Is there an idiom like this in your country?

What is an idiom?

An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally.  An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.