What it means
Getting visibly worked up, usually angry or flustered, like your blood pressure’s just done a lap of the M25. If someone’s hot under the collar they start huffing, going red, talking a mile a minute, or getting weirdly defensive. Could be over something serious or something properly petty. It’s basically the polite, office-safe way to say they’re fuming.
Usage examples
"Dave got proper hot under the collar when the boss asked about the missing petty cash, like mate, no one sweats that hard unless they’ve nicked it"
"Do not get hot under the collar, it was only a joke."
"He got all hot under the collar when they questioned his figures."
"She got a bit hot under the collar when I asked why her ex was still texting at midnight."
"Don’t mention the parking fine to Uncle Kev unless you fancy watching him get hot under the collar before dessert."
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Where it comes from
Recorded in English by the late 19th century, this one leans on a dead simple body image. When people get angry or flustered, their face and neck heat up and the collar starts to feel tight. That physical rise in temperature turned into a neat way of saying someone’s visibly worked up.
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