snapped someone's head off
Bit back verbally
To snap someone's head off is to respond with sudden, sharp irritation—a verbal bite disproportionate to the situation: I just asked if she wanted coffee and she snapped my head off.
The phrase captures the startling quality of an unexpectedly harsh reply, as if the person's temper struck like jaws.
- abruptnessSudden, unexpected manner
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- harshnessUnsparing quality or manner
- conflictOpposition between parties
- tersenessExtreme brevity of expression
lost my temper · stress · impatience · short fuse · frustration · flew off the handle · defensiveness · fatigue · bad mood · confrontation · outburst · pressure · under pressure · hostility · irritability · short temper · on edge · lashing out
emotional state in communication
snapped someone's head offkept one's cool
Remained calm despite provocation