vent one's spleen
Release pent-up anger
To vent one's spleen is to express anger or frustration freely, often at length.
The spleen was once thought to be the source of ill temper and melancholy.
The phrase suggests releasing pent-up irritation: He vented his spleen about the incompetent management for twenty minutes.
- rantingAngry, prolonged speech
- blow off steamRelease accumulated stress
- bileLiver-made digestive fluid
- rageIntense, violent anger
- complainingExpressing discontent verbally
fury · lose one's temper · fly off the handle · gall · tension · catharsis · indignation · humors · phlegm · conflict · bloodletting · scolding · resentment · bad blood · melancholy · berating · shouting · ire
vent one's spleenhold one's tongue
Deliberately not speak
bite one's tongue · keep one's cool · suffer in silence · contain oneself · internalize
vent one's spleensoothe
Gently ease discomfort
placate · make peace · pour oil on troubled waters · reconcile · mollify
vent, vents, vented, venting, ventilation, ventilate, ventilator, spleen, spleens