Phrasal Verbs about Anger

How do you convey anger in English? Discover 8 potent phrasal verbs, ranging from ‘Get to somebody’ to ‘Lash out at somebody.’

There is an extensive range of phrasal verbs in English that encompass various topics and can be applied in diverse situations. For instance, I’ll introduce eight phrasal verbs today that are useful for expressing anger.

As individuals, we all encounter situations where maintaining composure becomes challenging. In this article, you’ll discover how to articulate your displeasure and anger in English, including the ability to describe the cause of your frustration.

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•      Freak out

  This is another commonly used expression, which likely sounds familiar. It conveys the idea of being so angry, surprised, excited, or frightened that it becomes challenging to control oneself.

  – Yesterday, my teacher really freaked me out.
  – It’s really freaking me out!
  – My parents will freak out if we leave home.

  **Lash out at somebody:**
  At times, when a person is extremely upset, they may angrily shout at someone. This phrasal verb primarily signifies expressing anger through words, although it can also encompass physically attacking someone.

  – She lashed out at me last night.
  – Megan, feeling jealous and angry, lashed out at you.

•      Blow up

This phrasal verb signifies experiencing a sudden, intense outburst of anger, often involving shouting angrily at someone.

– Whenever I see them together, I could just blow up.
– My dad blew up when he saw the bill.

•    Tick somebody off

This phrasal verb indicates causing annoyance or anger in someone.

– The teacher ticks me off.
– Mary ticks me off when she’s trying to make everything perfect.

•  Work somebody up

This phrasal verb, “work somebody up,” refers to making someone angry or upset. When used in reference to oneself, it means becoming excessively worried about something.

– Try not to work yourself up about the exams.
– My brother knows how to work me up; he can make me angry.

• Piss somebody off

You might be acquainted with this informal expression commonly used in movies and TV shows, particularly geared towards a younger audience. The phrasal verb “piss off” implies making someone angry or irritated.

– His behavior really pisses me off.
– She never does any washing up, and it’s starting to piss me off.

•  Get to somebody

This English phrasal verb means “to upset, bother, or exasperate someone, or affect in some negative way.”

– Smoking really gets to me.
– The heat was beginning to get to me, so I went indoors.

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Additionally, there are numerous idiomatic expressions and slang words. By the way, the phrasal verbs “calm down” and “chill out” are employed to characterize a person’s state after experiencing anger. They signify “to begin to feel relaxed and less emotional.” This is just for your information.

What is your English level?

Find out your A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2 level of English with our online test and receive your English certificate.

Test Your English