tempers fly

USAGE SUMMARY

"tempers fly" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an idiomatic expression which means when people become angry or irritable. You can use it in multiple contexts. For example: When John suggested that they switch the team goals, tempers flew in the conference room.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Or tempers fly.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When tempers fly, which is often, it can put off some people".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

At one point tempers flew as Thomas Strobl, one of the deputy leaders of the CDU, who also happens to be Schauble's son-in-law, said: "The Greeks have got on our nerves for long enough".

The Guardian

"There's a lot of bad temper flying around," says one Lib Dem Cabinet minister.

Independent

He recalled, "My dad, who never lost his temper, flew off, and said, 'You're gonna go to college.' " Patterson attended the University of Detroit, and graduated from its law school in 1967, the year of the city's worst race riot.

The New Yorker

Tempers are flying.

Wikipedia

In a high-speed sport, tempers and emotions invariably fly.

The New York Times - Sports

Sparks do not fly, and tempers do not flare.

The New York Times

The other side said that the Anil group had "fraudulently" received more shares than it should have.Just before the writs started flying, tempers cooled.

The Economist

There, in the bowels of MARTA, the transportation dungeon, where elbows and tempers have been flying all week, came a strange, sweet, calming sound.

Los Angeles Times

Some claim he is reluctant to take advice and can fly into a temper if things don't go his way.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tempers fly" to vividly depict situations where anger and frustration suddenly escalate among people.

Common error

Avoid using "tempers fly" in highly formal or academic writing; opt for more neutral and professional language to maintain a composed tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tempers fly" functions as an idiomatic expression, vividly portraying the escalation of anger or frustration within a given situation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It acts as a descriptive element, adding intensity to the scenario.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Lifestyle

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the idiom "tempers fly" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable expression used to depict situations where anger or irritation escalates quickly. Ludwig AI confirms this. While frequently employed in journalistic and informal contexts, its appropriateness diminishes in more formal or academic writing, where alternatives like "disagreements intensify" may be preferable. The idiom effectively communicates a sense of emotional volatility, though its usage frequency remains relatively uncommon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

emotions flare

Focuses on the intensity of emotions erupting, omitting the implication of anger.

anger erupts

Highlights the sudden and forceful outbreak of anger, more direct than the original phrase.

disputes escalate

Emphasizes the growth and intensification of disagreements.

arguments intensify

Focuses on the increasing strength and severity of verbal disagreements.

disagreements become heated

Highlights the intensity of disagreements with a focus on temperature, using different imagery.

conflicts arise

Highlights the initial emergence of conflicts, less intense than "tempers fly".

hostility increases

Indicates a growing level of animosity, a more gradual process.

frictions intensify

Implies underlying tension growing stronger, not necessarily an explosion of anger.

irritation surfaces

Suggests a mild form of annoyance becoming noticeable.

patience wears thin

Describes a decrease in tolerance, rather than an active outburst of anger.

FAQs

What does it mean when I say "tempers fly"?

Saying "tempers fly" means that people are becoming angry or irritable, and arguments or disagreements are escalating quickly.

How can I use "tempers fly" in a sentence?

You can use "tempers fly" to describe a situation where people are becoming angry or irritable. For example, "During the negotiation, "tempers flew" as both sides refused to compromise".

What can I say instead of "tempers fly"?

You can use alternatives like "emotions flare", "anger erupts", or "disputes escalate" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "tempers fly" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "tempers fly" is generally more suitable for informal or journalistic writing. Formal writing may benefit from more neutral or precise vocabulary like "disagreements intensify".