the.com/short fuse
A tendency to become angry quickly, even over small or minor things.
means A tendency to lose one's temper quickly and with little provocation.
from A literal borrowing from explosives: a 'fuse' is the cord that carries a spark to the charge, and a 'short' one burns down fast, leaving almost no time between lighting it and the bang. The phrase moved from demolition sites and battlefields into everyday speech sometime in the 20th century as a vivid stand-in for anyone whose anger ignites with barely a warning spark.
- origin
- literally refers to explosive detonation cords, 1800s mining slang
- irony
- people with it rarely think they have it
- opposite
- long fuse, same bomb, better patience
- tell
- usually loudest right before the silence