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Meaning & use

short fuse

phrase·Everydayinformalfigurative

Last updated

UK/ˌʃɔːt ˈfjuːz/
US/ˌʃɔːrt ˈfjuːz/

Meanings

  1. phraseidiominformal

    A tendency to get angry quickly, over small things.

    Grammar: Usually follows have: he has a short fuse.

    Patterns

    • have a short fuse
    • someone's short fuse

    My brother has a short fuse, so don't mention the missing car keys.

    She was tired and hungry, and her short fuse snapped at the slightest delay.

    The coach's short fuse made players nervous at practice.

  2. phrasefixed phrasefigurative

    Little time left before something happens, especially a deadline or a problem blowing up.

    Grammar: Used about situations: the project is on a short fuse.

    Patterns

    • on a short fuse
    • be on a short fuse

    The team is on a short fuse because the launch is next week.

    With the contract expiring tomorrow, negotiations were on a short fuse.

    The crisis was on a short fuse, and everyone knew it.

Word forms

pluralshort fuses

Common combinations

have a short fuse
He has a short fuse when he's stuck in traffic.
a notoriously short fuse
The chef had a notoriously short fuse in the kitchen.
lengthen a short fuse
Sleep seems to lengthen his short fuse.
on a short fuse
The negotiators were on a short fuse after weeks of talks.
a short fuse with someone
She had a short fuse with anyone who arrived late.

Synonyms and how they differ

quick temper
Quick temper is the plain description, while short fuse is a more vivid image of someone ready to explode.
hot temper
Hot temper stresses the strength of the anger, whereas short fuse stresses how soon it starts.
irritability
Irritability is a formal word for being easily annoyed and sounds less dramatic.
touchiness
Touchiness is about being easily offended, not necessarily angry.

Opposites

patiencelong fuse

Word family

fuse noun
a cord or device that lights or breaks a circuit
short-tempered adjective
easily made angry
fuse verb
to join or melt together
fusible adjective
able to be melted

Commonly confused: short fuse or short circuit? short fuse or fuss?

short fuse vs short circuit

A short circuit is an electrical fault, and has no link to bad temper.

short fuse vs fuss

Fuss means unnecessary worry or complaint, and is not the same as fuse.

Practice

Everyone avoided asking him for favors because he had such a ____.

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