Hate is a strong word. People in the USA often use special expressions, called idioms, to talk about things they dislike deeply. These idioms help show feelings without saying the word “hate” directly. You might hear someone say, “That movie rubbed me the wrong way,” or “He can’t stand broccoli.” These phrases make the meaning clear in a fun and natural way.
In this article, we will look at many American idioms that talk about hate or strong dislike. These phrases are used by kids and adults in everyday life, like at school, home, or even on TV shows. Learning these can help you understand what people really mean and use them correctly in your own conversations. Let’s get into these expressions and see how people in the USA talk about the things they can’t stand.
Idioms About Hate
1. Can’t stand
Meaning: Really dislike something or someone
Example Sentence:
– I can’t stand broccoli.
– He can’t stand doing homework.
Other ways to say: Hate, strongly dislike
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom is common in American homes and schools when people talk about food, chores, or habits.
Usage: Used when someone dislikes something very much
2. Rub (someone) the wrong way
Meaning: Annoy or bother someone
Example Sentence:
– Her loud chewing rubs me the wrong way.
– That teacher’s voice rubs him the wrong way.
Other ways to say: Bother, irritate
Fun Fact/Origin: It comes from petting a cat the wrong way, which makes it upset.
Usage: Used when someone feels annoyed by something small
3. Get under (someone’s) skin
Meaning: Really annoy someone
Example Sentence:
– His teasing really gets under my skin.
– That noise gets under her skin.
Other ways to say: Bug, annoy
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s like something small getting stuck on your body and bothering you.
Usage: Often used when someone is upset but hides it
4. Boil over
Meaning: Become very angry or upset
Example Sentence:
– His anger boiled over when he saw the mess.
– She boiled over when her sister broke her toy.
Other ways to say: Explode, lose temper
Fun Fact/Origin: Like a pot of soup bubbling too much and spilling over.
Usage: Used when hate or anger grows too big to hold in
5. Have it in for (someone)
Meaning: Dislike someone and treat them badly on purpose
Example Sentence:
– The coach has it in for me.
– He thinks the teacher has it in for him.
Other ways to say: Pick on, target
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s been used in American schools when someone feels picked on.
Usage: Used when someone feels unfairly treated
6. Drive (someone) crazy
Meaning: Make someone very annoyed
Example Sentence:
– The noise from upstairs drives me crazy.
– Her humming drives him crazy.
Other ways to say: Bug, irritate
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s like your mind can’t take it anymore
Usage: Common in homes or schools when kids are annoyed
7. Can’t stomach
Meaning: Strongly dislike something (usually food or actions)
Example Sentence:
– I can’t stomach the smell of fish.
– He can’t stomach bullies.
Other ways to say: Hate, can’t handle
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from feeling sick when you dislike something
Usage: Often used when food or actions make someone feel upset
8. Make (someone’s) blood boil
Meaning: Make someone very angry
Example Sentence:
– That unfair rule makes my blood boil.
– It makes her blood boil when people lie.
Other ways to say: Rage, furious
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea that anger makes your blood feel hot
Usage: Used when someone feels deep anger or hate
9. Bite (someone’s) head off
Meaning: Yell at someone in anger
Example Sentence:
– Don’t bite my head off—I was just asking.
– He bit her head off for no reason.
Other ways to say: Snap at, yell at
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how people speak sharply when upset
Usage: When someone’s reaction seems too angry
10. At each other’s throats
Meaning: Always fighting or arguing
Example Sentence:
– The kids were at each other’s throats all day.
– They’re always at each other’s throats over toys.
Other ways to say: Arguing, fighting
Fun Fact/Origin: This paints a picture of two people ready to attack
Usage: Used when two people dislike each other and fight a lot
11. Give (someone) the cold shoulder
Meaning: Ignore someone on purpose
Example Sentence:
– She gave him the cold shoulder after the fight.
– He gave me the cold shoulder at lunch.
Other ways to say: Ignore, freeze out
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from offering a cold piece of meat instead of a warm welcome
Usage: Used when someone is mad and doesn’t want to talk
12. Hold a grudge
Meaning: Stay angry at someone for a long time
Example Sentence:
– He still holds a grudge from last year.
– She holds a grudge over little things.
Other ways to say: Stay mad, not forgive
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom is common in American families when someone can’t let go of anger
Usage: Used when someone can’t forgive easily
13. Crossed the line
Meaning: Did something unacceptable or offensive
Example Sentence:
– He crossed the line with that joke.
– She crossed the line by yelling at her friend.
Other ways to say: Went too far, out of bounds
Fun Fact/Origin: From sports where players must stay in bounds
Usage: Used when someone does something too mean
14. Burn with hatred
Meaning: Feel strong hate inside
Example Sentence:
– He burned with hatred after the unfair call.
– She burned with hatred toward the bully.
Other ways to say: Rage, full of anger
Fun Fact/Origin: Fire is often used to describe intense emotions
Usage: Used to show deep dislike or anger
15. See red
Meaning: Become very angry
Example Sentence:
– I saw red when I heard the lie.
– He sees red when people cheat.
Other ways to say: Blow up, lose it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from bullfighting—bulls charge at the red cape
Usage: Used when hate turns into fast anger
16. Have a chip on (one’s) shoulder
Meaning: Always angry or ready to fight
Example Sentence:
– He has a chip on his shoulder about losing.
– She walks around with a chip on her shoulder.
Other ways to say: Bad mood, bitter
Fun Fact/Origin: From old days when people placed a chip of wood on their shoulder daring others to knock it off
Usage: Used when someone holds a grudge or acts mad often
17. Cold as ice
Meaning: Not showing kindness or care
Example Sentence:
– Her voice was cold as ice.
– He gave me a cold-as-ice look.
Other ways to say: Unkind, distant
Fun Fact/Origin: Ice is freezing, like someone who acts with no emotion
Usage: Describes people who act like they don’t care
18. Have nothing but hate for (someone)
Meaning: Only feel hate toward someone
Example Sentence:
– He had nothing but hate for his rival.
– She has nothing but hate for cheaters.
Other ways to say: Full of hate, can’t stand
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in strong emotional situations
Usage: Describes deep and total dislike
19. Give (someone) a dirty look
Meaning: Look at someone with anger
Example Sentence:
– She gave him a dirty look after the comment.
– I got a dirty look for talking too loud.
Other ways to say: Mean stare, glare
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom is used in schools and homes when people are upset
Usage: Used when someone shows hate with their eyes
20. Turn your back on (someone)
Meaning: Ignore or stop helping someone on purpose
Example Sentence:
– He turned his back on me when I needed help.
– She turned her back on her best friend.
Other ways to say: Ignore, abandon
Fun Fact/Origin: Turning away from someone shows rejection
Usage: Used when someone acts with dislike or betrayal
21. Full of spite
Meaning: Act mean just to hurt someone
Example Sentence:
– She broke his toy out of spite.
– His words were full of spite.
Other ways to say: Mean, hurtful
Fun Fact/Origin: Spite means wanting to hurt someone back
Usage: Used when hate turns into actions
22. Dead to me
Meaning: Feel like someone doesn’t exist anymore
Example Sentence:
– After what he did, he’s dead to me.
– She said her ex-best friend was dead to her.
Other ways to say: Cut off, totally ignore
Fun Fact/Origin: Used to express extreme dislike or betrayal
Usage: Common in movies or serious arguments
23. Cold-hearted
Meaning: Uncaring, without emotion
Example Sentence:
– That was a cold-hearted thing to say.
– The villain was cold-hearted.
Other ways to say: Mean, cruel
Fun Fact/Origin: Hearts are symbols of love, so a “cold” heart shows no love
Usage: Used to describe someone mean on purpose
24. Black-hearted
Meaning: Evil or full of hate
Example Sentence:
– The thief was black-hearted.
– That black-hearted villain hurt everyone.
Other ways to say: Evil, mean-spirited
Fun Fact/Origin: “Black” is often used in stories to show dark or bad things
Usage: Used in books and shows to describe very bad people
25. Spit fire
Meaning: Speak with strong anger or hate
Example Sentence:
– She was spitting fire after losing.
– He spit fire during the argument.
Other ways to say: Yell, rage
Fun Fact/Origin: Dragons in stories spit fire when angry—this idiom shows the same kind of rage
Usage: Describes someone who is shouting in hate
26. Fly off the handle
Meaning: Suddenly get very angry
Example Sentence:
– Dad flew off the handle when he saw the mess.
– She flew off the handle after the bad grade.
Other ways to say: Snap, explode
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old tools whose handles would come off suddenly
Usage: Used when someone gets mad very quickly
27. Burn bridges
Meaning: End a relationship in a bad way
Example Sentence:
– He burned bridges when he quit rudely.
– Don’t burn bridges with your teammates.
Other ways to say: Ruin a connection, end things badly
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from burning a bridge so you can’t go back
Usage: Used when people end friendships with anger
28. Chew (someone) out
Meaning: Yell at someone for doing something wrong
Example Sentence:
– The coach chewed him out after the game.
– She got chewed out for being late.
Other ways to say: Scold, lecture
Fun Fact/Origin: Means to tear into someone with words like chewing
Usage: Common when someone gets in trouble
29. Blow a fuse
Meaning: Lose your temper fast
Example Sentence:
– He blew a fuse when his team lost.
– Mom blew a fuse after the spill.
Other ways to say: Explode, flip out
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from electric fuses blowing when overloaded
Usage: Used when someone gets mad suddenly
30. Go ballistic
Meaning: Get very angry and loud
Example Sentence:
– She went ballistic when the dog ran away.
– He goes ballistic when his toys break.
Other ways to say: Freak out, lose it
Fun Fact/Origin: Ballistic means like a rocket—fast and strong
Usage: Used when hate or anger becomes loud and wild
31. In hot water
Meaning: In trouble because someone is angry
Example Sentence:
– He was in hot water after the prank.
– I got in hot water for skipping chores.
Other ways to say: In trouble, facing anger
Fun Fact/Origin: Hot water feels painful, like being in a bad situation
Usage: Used when someone faces others’ anger
32. Go off the deep end
Meaning: Act out with anger or hate
Example Sentence:
– He went off the deep end when he lost the game.
– Don’t go off the deep end over nothing.
Other ways to say: Lose control, go crazy
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from diving into deep water suddenly
Usage: Used when someone acts wild due to hate or anger
33. Give (someone) a piece of your mind
Meaning: Tell someone you’re angry with them
Example Sentence:
– She gave him a piece of her mind for being rude.
– He gave the waiter a piece of his mind.
Other ways to say: Scold, speak angrily
Fun Fact/Origin: Like giving away part of your thoughts in anger
Usage: Used when people speak up with anger
34. Sick and tired (of something)
Meaning: Really hate or dislike something now
Example Sentence:
– I’m sick and tired of doing dishes.
– He’s sick and tired of that loud music.
Other ways to say: Fed up, had enough
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in American homes when people are annoyed
Usage: Used when someone has reached their limit
35. Get bent out of shape
Meaning: Get upset about something small
Example Sentence:
– Don’t get bent out of shape over a joke.
– She got bent out of shape over nothing.
Other ways to say: Overreact, get too mad
Fun Fact/Origin: Like something that was straight getting twisted
Usage: Used when someone reacts with too much hate or anger
36. Give (someone) grief
Meaning: Bother or annoy someone a lot
Example Sentence:
– He gives his sister grief all the time.
– The kids gave the teacher grief all day.
Other ways to say: Trouble, tease
Fun Fact/Origin: “Grief” means pain or trouble
Usage: Used when someone acts in a way that causes dislike
37. Put (someone’s) back up
Meaning: Make someone angry or annoyed
Example Sentence:
– That comment really put my back up.
– Don’t put her back up with rude words.
Other ways to say: Annoy, get on nerves
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how animals arch their backs when angry
Usage: Describes something that triggers anger or hate
38. Not see eye to eye
Meaning: Strongly disagree
Example Sentence:
– They don’t see eye to eye on politics.
– We don’t see eye to eye about the rules.
Other ways to say: Argue, clash
Fun Fact/Origin: If you don’t see eye to eye, you’re not on the same level
Usage: Common in talks about disagreements that cause dislike
39. Pick a fight
Meaning: Start an argument on purpose
Example Sentence:
– He picked a fight with his brother.
– She’s always picking fights with classmates.
Other ways to say: Start trouble, look for a reason to argue
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from choosing to fight instead of avoid
Usage: Describes someone who causes hate on purpose
40. Give off bad vibes
Meaning: Make people feel something negative
Example Sentence:
– That guy gives off bad vibes.
– This place gives off bad vibes.
Other ways to say: Feels wrong, makes you uneasy
Fun Fact/Origin: “Vibes” means feelings or energy
Usage: Used when people or things feel hateful or scary
41. Give (someone) a hard time
Meaning: Tease or pick on someone
Example Sentence:
– The boys gave her a hard time on the bus.
– He gives his little brother a hard time.
Other ways to say: Bother, trouble
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom is very common in U.S. schools
Usage: Describes someone treating another with dislike
42. Have a beef with (someone)
Meaning: Be mad or have a problem with someone
Example Sentence:
– He has a beef with the coach.
– I don’t have a beef with her.
Other ways to say: Have a problem, hold anger
Fun Fact/Origin: Slang in the U.S. for personal issues
Usage: Used in casual talk about hate or grudges
43. Lose it
Meaning: Totally lose control in anger
Example Sentence:
– She lost it when her phone broke.
– He lost it after being teased.
Other ways to say: Blow up, freak out
Fun Fact/Origin: “It” refers to control or calm
Usage: Used when someone’s hate or anger goes too far
44. Give someone a taste of their own medicine
Meaning: Do the same bad thing back to them
Example Sentence:
– She gave him a taste of his own medicine.
– The bully got a taste of his own medicine.
Other ways to say: Payback, revenge
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from doctors giving bitter medicine
Usage: Used when someone returns hate with hate
45. Stick it to (someone)
Meaning: Treat someone mean to get back at them
Example Sentence:
– He stuck it to the other team after they laughed.
– She stuck it to her ex-friend with rude words.
Other ways to say: Get revenge, strike back
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in sports and competition
Usage: Used when hate leads to payback
46. Blow your top
Meaning: Get so mad you can’t hold it in
Example Sentence:
– Dad blew his top when we broke the lamp.
– She blew her top at her noisy neighbors.
Other ways to say: Yell, go off
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from volcanoes exploding
Usage: Used when hate or anger suddenly explodes
47. See someone as the enemy
Meaning: View someone with strong dislike
Example Sentence:
– He sees his classmate as the enemy.
– She sees her old friend as the enemy now.
Other ways to say: Hate, distrust
Fun Fact/Origin: “Enemy” is a strong word from war—used for deep hate
Usage: Describes very strong dislike or mistrust
48. Out for blood
Meaning: Want revenge or to hurt someone
Example Sentence:
– After the loss, the fans were out for blood.
– He’s out for blood after what happened.
Other ways to say: Looking for revenge, want payback
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from hunting and battles
Usage: Used when hate leads to strong action or anger
Quiz: Idioms About Hate
Instructions: Choose the best meaning for each idiom. Each question has one correct answer. These questions help you check how well you understand hate idioms. Think about how people use these expressions in the USA.
Question Key
1. What does “can’t stand” mean?
A) To hold something up
B) To really dislike something
C) To enjoy something a lot
2. If someone “rubbed you the wrong way,” what happened?
A) They made you happy
B) They confused you
C) They annoyed you
3. What does it mean when someone “gets under your skin”?
A) You like them a lot
B) They bother you
C) They give you advice
4. If someone’s anger “boiled over,” what happened?
A) They became very mad
B) They spilled something
C) They cleaned up quickly
5. If a person “has it in for you,” how do they feel?
A) They support you
B) They dislike you
C) They want to be your friend
6. What does it mean to “give someone the cold shoulder”?
A) Offer them a sweater
B) Give them food
C) Ignore them on purpose
7. If someone “holds a grudge,” what do they do?
A) Keep being mad at someone
B) Give someone a hug
C) Forget a problem quickly
8. What does “burn with hatred” mean?
A) Feel sleepy
B) Feel very angry
C) Feel warm and happy
9. If someone is “at your throat,” what are they doing?
A) Giving you a necklace
B) Yelling or fighting with you
C) Helping you get dressed
10. What does it mean to “bite someone’s head off”?
A) Eat something
B) Yell at someone
C) Hug someone tightly
11. If someone “blows a fuse,” what happens?
A) They go quiet
B) They walk away
C) They get super angry
12. What does “cold as ice” describe?
A) A kind person
B) A mean or uncaring person
C) A person who likes ice cream
13. If someone is “spitting fire,” how do they sound?
A) Calm and gentle
B) Happy and laughing
C) Very angry and yelling
14. If someone “burns bridges,” what do they do?
A) Travel to new places
B) End relationships badly
C) Build something with friends
15. What does it mean to “pick a fight”?
A) Avoid trouble
B) Start an argument
C) Choose a game
16. If someone “gives you grief,” what are they doing?
A) Being kind
B) Teasing or bothering you
C) Helping you
17. What does it mean to “have a chip on your shoulder”?
A) Feel proud
B) Be ready to fight or angry
C) Carry snacks
18. What happens when someone “loses it”?
A) They become very angry
B) They fall asleep
C) They tell a joke
Answer Key
- B) To really dislike something
- C) They annoyed you
- B) They bother you
- A) They became very mad
- B) They dislike you
- C) Ignore them on purpose
- A) Keep being mad at someone
- B) Feel very angry
- B) Yelling or fighting with you
- B) Yell at someone
- C) They get super angry
- B) A mean or uncaring person
- C) Very angry and yelling
- B) End relationships badly
- B) Start an argument
- B) Teasing or bothering you
- B) Be ready to fight or angry
- A) They become very angry
Wrapping Up
Hate is a strong feeling, and people in the USA often use special phrases to talk about it. Idioms like “can’t stand” or “rubbed the wrong way” help show emotions in a real and relatable way. These expressions are used at school, home, and even in movies.
Learning how to use these idioms helps you understand others better and express your feelings clearly. Remember, words can show how we feel—even strong feelings like dislike or anger—without saying the word “hate.”
