bite someone's head off
also, snap one's head off
Meaning | Synonyms
- overreact in an angry or harsh way
- reply in a sharp or uncalled for manner
- respond angrily to a harmless or moderate situation
Example Sentences
- His mother nearly bit his head off when he got his new shoes dirty.
- The boss was is such a bad mood today. He bit the new guy's head off for being two minutes late this morning.
- I told the waitress that my meal was cold, and she practically bit my head off.
- I said 'Hello' when I walked in and he nearly snapped my head off. He must have had a bad day at the office.
- I'm afraid that if I ask for a leave now, my boss will bite my head off.
- Ask your teacher the question you cannot solve. She is not going to bite your head off.
Origin
To bite (or snap) someone's head off is to react angrily to a situation when there is not a valid reason. Usually by either shouting, saying something harsh, scolding or being angry and over critical in an unprovoked, needless, or sudden manner.
This phrase seems to have replaced a much earlier idiom. Dating back to the 1500s, bite someone's nose off. Meaning to answer brusquely or in a snappy fashion. In the current form it has been in use since the eighteenth century.
