sửng cồ
Definition
Verb: - To have one's hackles up: To react with immediate, aggressive, or confrontational anger when provoked, offended, or when encountering something contrary to one's wishes. It describes a sudden, bristling, and often vulgar or coarse display of temper. - To bristle: To show sudden irritation or hostility, often in a ready-to-fight manner.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Anh ta rất nhạy cảm, cứ chạm nhẹ là sửng cồ lên ngay. (He is very sensitive; he has his hackles up at the slightest provocation.)
- Đừng nói gì đến chuyện đó, nó sẽ sửng cồ đấy. (Don't mention that matter, he will bristle.)
- Thấy bị chỉ trích, nó sửng cồ lên tranh cãi. (Feeling criticized, he got his hackles up and started arguing.)
Advanced Usage
- The term sửng cồ carries a vulgar or coarse connotation, implying a crude, instinctive, and often undignified angry reaction. It is primarily used in spoken, informal language.
- It often describes a reaction that is disproportionate to the stimulus, highlighting a quick-tempered or easily provoked personality.
Variants and Related Words
- Xửng cồ: A less common phonetic variant of sửng cồ with identical meaning and usage.
Synonyms
- To flare up: To suddenly become angry.
- To fly off the handle: To lose one's temper suddenly.
- To get one's back up: To become defensive and angry.
Related Idioms
- Nổi cơn thịnh nộ: To fly into a rage (a more general, less vulgar term for intense anger).
- Nổi đóa: To burst out in anger, to explode (emphasizing the sudden outburst).
verb
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to have one's hackles up
