Have a cow

Meaning

The idiom "have a cow" is an expression used to describe someone who is very upset or angry. It can also be used to refer to someone who is behaving unpredictably or irrationally. The idiom's origins are not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated in the United States in the 1960s or 1970s.

Usage

• "My boss had a cow when I made a mistake on the report." - This sentence uses the idiom in a professional context, where the boss is extremely angry about the mistake.
• "John had a cow after he lost his job." - In this sentence, John is very upset and angry because he has lost his job, and the idiom conveys that feeling effectively.
• "I don't know what got into her; she just had a cow for no reason." - This sentence uses the idiom to describe someone who is behaving unpredictably or irrationally without any apparent cause.
• "The customer had a cow when he was served a cold burger." - In this sentence, the customer is very upset and angry because he has been served a bad meal.
• "I can't believe my sister had a cow over something so small." - This sentence uses the idiom in a sarcastic way to describe someone who is acting out of proportion to the situation.

Roots and History

The exact origin of the idiom "have a cow" is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated in the United States in the 1960s or 1970s. The phrase may have come from earlier expressions like "blow a gasket" or "have a fit," which also convey a sense of anger or upset. Over time, the idiom has become more popular and is now commonly used in contemporary language to describe someone who is very upset or angry.

Synonyms in English

• Blow a gasket
• Have a temper tantrum
• Flip out
• Lose it
• Go bananas

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "avoir une rage" - This idiom translates to "to have a fury" and is used to describe someone who is extremely angry.
• Spanish: "tener una colera" - This idiom translates to "to have a rage" and is used to describe someone who is very upset and angry.
• German: "zu haben eine Trubsuchkeit" - This idiom translates to "to have a drinking problem" and is used to describe someone who is behaving unpredictably or irrationally due to alcohol consumption.
• Italian: "avere una crisi di nervi" - This idiom translates to "to have a nervous breakdown" and is used to describe someone who is extremely upset and unable to cope with the situation.
• Japanese: "怒りを感じる" - This idiom translates to "to feel angry" and is used to describe someone who is very upset and angry about something.

Similar Idioms

• mad at

• let sleeping dogs lie

• vent spleen