short fuse
short fuse — idiom
1. the quality of becoming irritated or losing one's temper very easily, often over
the quality of becoming irritated or losing one's temper very easily, often over small annoyances or setbacks
Tara warned the new staff that the head chef has a short fuse during the dinner rush.
collocation: have a short fuse
After one sarcastic remark, Ilan's short fuse became obvious to everyone at the table.
possessive pattern: [person]'s short fuse
Gabriela knew her father had a short fuse, so she waited until after dinner to ask.
There is no room for a short fuse when you are dealing with frightened animals all day.
The team learned to read the manager's mood — his short fuse was a problem nobody wanted to trigger.
- quick temper
more literal and less vivid; used in both formal and informal contexts
- hot-headedness
suggests impulsive, rash anger rather than just irritability
- irritability
more formal and clinical; often used in medical or psychological contexts
- patience
the general opposite quality of staying calm under pressure
文法句型
have + a short fuse
用法筆記
Always used as a noun phrase, most often paired with the verb 'have' (have a short fuse). Describes a lasting personality trait, not a single outburst of anger.