piss him off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'piss him off' is not appropriate for written English, as it is considered a highly informal phrase.
Instead, you could use 'annoy him' or 'irritate him' to express the same sentiment. For example, "John's constant complaining was starting to annoy him."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

I'd piss him off all the time.

The Guardian - Film

That said, I probably don't want to piss him off," Levin said, with a laugh.

The Washington Post

For instance, Tanimura tells us, firing arrows at Mr ArmaRhino will likely "piss him off".

The Guardian - Tech

Mr. Wolfe had been at a Capitol Hill restaurant the evening before and overheard a Republican advertising strategist discussing his new assignment, to attack Mr. Frank with an expected budget of $1 million and a strategy to "piss him off, because you know how Barney gets".

The New York Times

Eldon is on vacation, but I'm pretty sure it would piss him off, too.

TechCrunch

One thing he doesn't like are people and companies that do things that add friction to the already difficult task of building a company (or otherwise piss him off).

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

"I'm pissing him off enormously," Bennett said, smiling.

The New Yorker

Such lack of awe for the Big Willie talk that is an essential part of Prince's everyday mood and music obviously pisses him off a bit.

The Guardian - Music

Brian's comments bring to mind my wish that Rod would be more clear about what's pissing him off sometimes.

Huffington Post

Or he'd talk about someone who'd been pissing him off, getting his fans to take his side.

Vice

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Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, avoid using "piss him off". Opt for alternatives like "annoy him" or "irritate him" to maintain a professional tone.

Common error

While "piss him off" is acceptable in informal settings, using it in formal writing or professional communication can undermine your credibility. Choose a more appropriate alternative based on your audience and purpose.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "piss him off" functions as a causative verb, indicating an action that results in someone becoming annoyed or angry. Examples provided by Ludwig show it used in contexts where someone intentionally or unintentionally provokes another person.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "piss him off" is an informal phrasal verb used to describe actions that cause someone to become angry or annoyed. While grammatically sound, its vulgarity makes it unsuitable for formal or professional contexts, as noted by Ludwig. Instead, consider using alternatives like "annoy him" or "irritate him" in such settings. Usage is common in news media and online content, but less so in academic or business writing. Choose your words wisely based on your audience and the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

annoy him

A more polite and general way to express causing irritation.

irritate him

Similar to 'annoy', but can suggest a more persistent form of aggravation.

make him angry

A direct and clear way of saying someone causes anger.

frustrate him

Suggests causing someone to feel thwarted or unable to achieve a goal.

rile him up

Implies stirring someone into an excited or agitated state, often angry.

aggravate him

Suggests making someone's existing annoyance or anger worse.

get under his skin

Idiomatic expression for consistently irritating someone.

drive him up the wall

Idiomatic expression suggesting extreme annoyance to the point of frustration.

make his blood boil

A more intense expression for causing extreme anger.

ruffle his feathers

Suggests disturbing someone's composure or causing slight annoyance.

FAQs

What does "piss him off" mean?

The phrase "piss him off" is a vulgar way of saying to annoy or irritate someone greatly. It implies causing anger or strong displeasure.

What can I say instead of "piss him off"?

You can use alternatives like "annoy him", "irritate him", or "make him angry" depending on the context.

Is "piss him off" formal or informal?

"Piss him off" is highly informal and should be avoided in professional or academic settings. More formal options include "annoy him" or "irritate him".

How can I use "piss him off" correctly in a sentence?

Use "piss him off" only in casual conversation or informal writing. For example, "I didn't mean to piss him off, but my comment clearly struck a nerve."