blow one's top

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

To become explosively angry; to lose one's temper.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

When my dad found out I had failed the exams, he just blew his top.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org). Figurative class: Metaphor (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).

Common questions

What does “blow one's top” mean?

To become explosively angry; to lose one's temper.

Is “blow one's top” formal or informal?

blow one's top is generally slang.