like a bear with a sore head

Meaning: In a very bad, irritable mood.

Example: “Dad's been like a bear with a sore head since his team lost the final.”

Origin: A bear is fearsome enough; one in pain is worse. The comparison is found in print by the early 19th century, and possibly in the late 18th, though the earliest claimed uses are not well confirmed.

Equivalents in other languages

Spanish: Tener mala leche Literally: To have bad milk
French: Être de mauvais poil Literally: To be of bad hair
French: N'être pas à prendre avec des pincettes Literally: Not to be picked up with tongs

See all 3 languages side by side →

More English idioms

dead on one's feet To be utterly exhausted.
lay it on with a trowel To flatter or exaggerate very heavily and without subtlety.
fall flat on one's face To fail completely and embarrassingly.
burst someone's bubble To destroy someone's illusion or happy belief.
rise from the ashes To be reborn or rebuilt after destruction or failure.
one's blood runs cold To be filled with sudden fear or horror.

Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

Gezellig The warm, fuzzy feeling of being somewhere cosy and comfortable with people you like — a…
Uitwaaien Going for a walk or bike ride in the wind specifically to clear your head — letting the b…
Sisu An extraordinary inner determination — stoic courage, grit, and resilience in the face of…

Browse all untranslatable words →

Keep exploring

Explore all idioms →

Equivalents in other languages

More idioms — Animals

More English idioms

Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words