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Blow a fuse

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Blow a fuse: to lose one's temper suddenly and completely, like an electrical circuit overloading; the mechanical metaphor captures the involuntary, explosive quality of extreme anger.

Detailed Definition
Blow a fuse, an idiomatic phrase that denotes a sudden outburst of anger or loss of emotional control akin to an electrical overload, dramatizes in poetry the volatility of human temperament, pent-up frustrations reaching breaking points, and the raw intensity of suppressed feelings erupting into conflict or revelation. Poets harness this expression in character studies or narrative works to heighten scenes of interpersonal tension, personal crises, or societal pressures, exploring triggers of rage, consequences of emotional mismanagement, catharsis through release, and the balance between restraint and authentic expression, thereby infusing verses with dynamic energy and relatable insights into psychological realism and relational dynamics.
Example
Example in poetry:
Anger poem: "He would blow a fuse at the slightest provocation from hidden wounds."; Dramatic: "Society's injustices make even calm hearts blow a fuse in verse."; Student use: "Dramatizes emotional release in confessional poetry."; "The unfair ruling made citizens blow a fuse in protest songs."
Additional Notes
Electrical temper loss, dramatizes volatility in anger monologues. Usage tip: Release tension in confessional pieces.
Also Known As
Blow one's top Lose one's temper Blow a gasket Fly off the handle
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