work oneself into a lather
Meaning: To become very agitated, anxious or angry.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Don't work yourself into a lather over one bad review.”
Category: Animals
Origin: A hard-driven horse sweats a white froth, called lather. The figurative use for a worked-up person is recorded from the early 20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: se mettre la rate au court-bouillon — literally: to put one's spleen into quick-boiled broth
More idioms — Animals
- like a bear with a sore head — In a very bad, irritable mood.
- prick up one's ears — To suddenly start listening closely.
- stir up a hornet's nest — To cause a lot of trouble or anger, often by provoking people.
- drunk as a skunk — Extremely drunk.
- kick against the pricks — To resist authority or fate in a way that only hurts oneself.
- hell for leather — As fast as possible.
More English idioms
- be all the rage — To be extremely fashionable or popular for a time.
- avoid like the plague — To stay as far away as possible from someone or something.
- lay it on thick — To exaggerate, especially praise or flattery, far too much.
- stake one's life on it — To be absolutely certain that something is true.
- welcome with open arms — To greet or accept someone with great warmth and enthusiasm.
- count on the fingers of one hand — To be very few in number, five or fewer.
From our proverbs
- Tis money makes the mare to go. — Without financial resources, even the most capable asset remains immobilized and worthles…
- He that hath no money needeth no purse. — Poverty eliminates the burden of safeguarding wealth you don't possess.
- The moon's not seen where the sun shines. — Lesser truths become invisible when greater ones dominate our attention and understanding.