When people get really angry or upset, they might raise their voices. Yelling can happen at home, in school, or even with friends. It doesn’t always mean someone is mean; it could just mean they’re feeling strong emotions. Instead of just saying “someone yelled,” we can use special phrases called idioms to make our language more interesting.
Idioms are fun ways to say something in a short and colorful way. They help us understand how someone feels or acts without using many words. In this article, we’ll look at idioms people use when they talk about yelling. You might hear these on TV, in books, or from people around you. Learning these can help you understand what others mean and help you talk in more creative ways.
Idioms for Yelling
1. Blow a fuse
Meaning: To suddenly get very angry and yell.
For Example: Dad blew a fuse when I spilled milk on his phone. / My teacher blew a fuse after we kept talking in class.
Alternatively: Lose your temper / Explode
2. Scream your head off
Meaning: To yell loudly because of anger or frustration.
For Example: She screamed her head off when she lost her toy. / He screamed his head off during the scary movie.
Alternatively: Yell loudly / Shout a lot
3. Bite someone’s head off
Meaning: To yell at someone for no big reason.
For Example: Mom bit my head off when I asked about dinner too many times. / He bit his sister’s head off over a game.
Alternatively: Snap at / Be rude
4. Throw a fit
Meaning: To yell and act wild when angry.
For Example: He threw a fit when he didn’t get more screen time. / My little brother throws a fit when he’s told “no.”
Alternatively: Tantrum / Yell loudly
5. Go bananas
Meaning: To act out in a wild or loud way.
For Example: She went bananas when her favorite show got canceled. / The kids went bananas after too much candy.
Alternatively: Go crazy / Yell and move around
6. Have a cow
Meaning: To overreact and yell.
For Example: Don’t have a cow, it’s just a small mistake. / He had a cow when his video game froze.
Alternatively: Freak out / Get really mad
7. Hit the roof
Meaning: To get very angry and start yelling.
For Example: She hit the roof when she saw the broken window. / My dad hit the roof after the car got scratched.
Alternatively: Explode / Blow up
8. Go through the roof
Meaning: To get super angry and loud.
For Example: Mom went through the roof when she found out I didn’t do homework. / He went through the roof over a spilled drink.
Alternatively: Get furious / Scream
9. Jump down someone’s throat
Meaning: To yell at someone suddenly.
For Example: He jumped down my throat just for asking a question. / My sister jumped down my throat when I touched her phone.
Alternatively: Yell fast / Be harsh
10. Lose it
Meaning: To lose control and yell or scream.
For Example: I lost it when my drawing got ruined. / She lost it after waiting too long in line.
Alternatively: Freak out / Blow up
11. Blow up
Meaning: To yell or get angry quickly.
For Example: He blew up when we made a mess. / She blew up after hearing the bad news.
Alternatively: Explode / Get loud
12. Flip out
Meaning: To get very upset and yell.
For Example: I flipped out when I lost my homework. / My mom flipped out when she saw the messy kitchen.
Alternatively: Freak out / Shout
13. Yell at the top of your lungs
Meaning: To yell as loud as possible.
For Example: He yelled at the top of his lungs when his team won. / She yelled at the top of her lungs during the roller coaster ride.
Alternatively: Scream loudly / Shout
14. Raise your voice
Meaning: To start speaking in a louder, angrier tone.
For Example: My teacher raised her voice when we didn’t listen. / Dad raised his voice when the dog made a mess.
Alternatively: Speak loudly / Yell a bit
15. Shout from the rooftops
Meaning: To yell loudly to everyone.
For Example: She shouted from the rooftops when she got the highest score. / He shouted from the rooftops about his new bike.
Alternatively: Tell loudly / Yell happily
16. Go off the deep end
Meaning: To suddenly get very upset and loud.
For Example: He went off the deep end when his ice cream fell. / She went off the deep end after losing the game.
Alternatively: Freak out / Yell a lot
17. Yell your head off
Meaning: To scream or shout really loudly.
For Example: The baby yelled his head off during the checkup. / My brother yelled his head off when he stubbed his toe.
Alternatively: Scream loudly / Cry out
18. Throw a tantrum
Meaning: To yell and act upset like a young child.
For Example: He threw a tantrum when told to turn off the TV. / The toddler threw a tantrum at the store.
Alternatively: Act out / Cry loudly
19. Snap at someone
Meaning: To yell or speak angrily without thinking.
For Example: I snapped at my friend because I was tired. / She snapped at her brother for no reason.
Alternatively: Speak sharply / Be mean
20. Make a scene
Meaning: To yell or act out in public.
For Example: He made a scene when he didn’t get candy. / She made a scene at the store over a toy.
Alternatively: Draw attention / Yell out
21. Have a meltdown
Meaning: To cry or yell because of stress.
For Example: She had a meltdown after losing her backpack. / He had a meltdown when he couldn’t solve the math problem.
Alternatively: Break down / Get loud
22. Go nuts
Meaning: To act very angry or crazy.
For Example: My dad went nuts when I lost the keys. / He went nuts when he got grounded.
Alternatively: Freak out / Yell and stomp
23. Be in a rage
Meaning: To feel so angry that you might yell or act out.
For Example: He was in a rage after his toy broke. / She was in a rage when her artwork got ruined.
Alternatively: Super angry / About to yell
24. Let it all out
Meaning: To yell or scream to release your feelings.
For Example: He let it all out after a bad day. / I needed to let it all out after the test.
Alternatively: Scream / Say everything
25. Give someone an earful
Meaning: To yell at someone and tell them off.
For Example: She gave me an earful for breaking her phone case. / He got an earful from the coach.
Alternatively: Scold / Yell at
26. Talk someone’s ear off (angrily)
Meaning: To yell a lot at someone.
For Example: Dad talked my ear off about the broken window. / She talked my ear off after I missed curfew.
Alternatively: Lecture / Yell
27. Raise Cain
Meaning: To cause trouble and yell loudly.
For Example: He raised Cain after his bike got stolen. / She raised Cain about the dirty room.
Alternatively: Make noise / Yell
28. Read someone the riot act
Meaning: To yell at someone for doing something wrong.
For Example: Mom read me the riot act when I forgot to clean up. / The teacher read the class the riot act for talking.
Alternatively: Scold / Get loud
29. Go ballistic
Meaning: To get super mad and yell a lot.
For Example: My uncle went ballistic when the grill broke. / She went ballistic after losing her phone.
Alternatively: Blow up / Lose it
30. Scream blue murder
Meaning: To scream really loudly in fear or anger.
For Example: He screamed blue murder when he saw the spider. / She screamed blue murder after stepping on a Lego.
Alternatively: Shout loud / Panic
31. Get in someone’s face
Meaning: To yell at someone up close.
For Example: He got in my face after I beat him in the game. / My sister got in my face about her missing book.
Alternatively: Confront / Shout at
32. Bark at someone
Meaning: To yell or talk in a sharp voice.
For Example: The coach barked at us for not paying attention. / Mom barked at me to clean up.
Alternatively: Yell fast / Speak sharply
33. Howl in anger
Meaning: To yell loudly because you’re very mad.
For Example: He howled in anger when his team lost. / She howled in anger over the bad grade.
Alternatively: Shout loudly / Cry out
34. Shout someone down
Meaning: To yell louder than someone to stop them.
For Example: They shouted each other down during the argument. / He tried to shout me down in class.
Alternatively: Talk over / Yell louder
35. Go on a rant
Meaning: To yell or complain loudly for a while.
For Example: My dad went on a rant about messy rooms. / She went on a rant about school lunches.
Alternatively: Yell and complain / Vent loudly
36. Talk in a loud tone
Meaning: To speak loudly like you’re about to yell.
For Example: The teacher talked in a loud tone to get our attention. / He used a loud tone when upset.
Alternatively: Speak firmly / Almost yell
37. Rant and rave
Meaning: To yell and talk wildly.
For Example: He ranted and raved after losing his homework. / She ranted and raved over the broken tablet.
Alternatively: Yell a lot / Go wild
38. Make your voice heard
Meaning: To speak or yell so others listen.
For Example: He made his voice heard about the unfair rules. / She made her voice heard when she didn’t get a turn.
Alternatively: Speak up / Shout out
39. Raise a ruckus
Meaning: To cause noise and yell.
For Example: The kids raised a ruckus during lunch. / He raised a ruckus after a bad call in the game.
Alternatively: Be loud / Cause a scene
40. Shout out loud
Meaning: To yell in a way everyone can hear.
For Example: She shouted out loud when she won. / He shouted out loud to call his friend.
Alternatively: Call out / Yell
Idioms for Yelling: True/False Quiz
- “Blow a fuse” means to laugh very hard at a joke.
True / False - If someone “screams their head off,” they are yelling very loudly.
True / False - “Have a cow” means to stay calm and quiet.
True / False - When someone “bites your head off,” they are speaking nicely to you.
True / False - If a kid “throws a fit,” it usually means they are angry and yelling.
True / False - “Yell at the top of your lungs” means whispering softly.
True / False - When someone “goes off the deep end,” they may start yelling.
True / False - If you “talk someone’s ear off angrily,” you are yelling or scolding them for a while.
True / False - “Raise your voice” means to speak more quietly.
True / False - “Go nuts” can mean someone is yelling and acting out.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
Scoring Guide
- 10 Correct Answers: Idioms Master!
- 7–9 Correct Answers: You really get Idioms, nice work!
- 4–6 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Idioms together!
Conclusion
Yelling can show strong feelings like anger or frustration. But people don’t always say “He yelled” or “She shouted.” Instead, they use idioms. Idioms make speaking more fun and help us understand how someone really feels.
By learning these idioms, you’ll understand others better and sound more natural when you speak. Try using a few of them next time you hear someone raise their voice or when you’re telling a story about it.
