ill temper
C1Formal, literary, descriptive
Definition
Meaning
A habitual or easily provoked state of irritability, bad mood, and angry disposition.
A sustained or frequent negative emotional state characterized by irritability, impatience, and a proneness to anger, often affecting one's general disposition and interactions.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a noun phrase describing a character trait or a temporary state. Often implies a degree of permanence or habitual nature, not just a single instance of anger.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly used in British English. In American English, synonyms like 'bad temper' or 'foul mood' might be slightly more frequent in casual speech.
Connotations
Slightly more literary or old-fashioned in both dialects, suggesting a character flaw.
Frequency
Low to medium frequency in formal writing; less common in everyday casual speech in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[possessive] + ill temperill temper + of + [person]ill temper + towards + [target]verb (show/display/exhibit) + ill temperVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A storm of ill temper”
- “His ill temper got the better of him.”
- “To be in a fit of ill temper.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used in HR contexts or performance reviews: 'His chronic ill temper has created a hostile work environment.'
Academic
Used in literary criticism, historical biography, or psychology texts to describe a subject's character.
Everyday
Formal description of someone's difficult personality: 'I avoid him in the morning due to his ill temper.'
Technical
May appear in clinical psychology or medical notes describing a patient's behavioural symptoms.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A – 'ill temper' is not a verb. The related verb is 'to temper'.
American English
- N/A – 'ill temper' is not a verb. The related verb is 'to temper'.
adverb
British English
- N/A – No direct adverb form.
American English
- N/A – No direct adverb form.
adjective
British English
- N/A – The adjective form is 'ill-tempered', e.g., 'an ill-tempered debate'.
- N/A – The adjective form is 'ill-tempered', e.g., 'an ill-tempered reply'.
American English
- N/A – The adjective form is 'ill-tempered', e.g., 'an ill-tempered review'.
- N/A – The adjective form is 'ill-tempered', e.g., 'an ill-tempered neighbour'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She does not like his ill temper.
- The teacher showed ill temper today.
- His ill temper made the meeting very difficult.
- Everyone knows about the manager's ill temper.
- The historical account described the king's notorious ill temper and its political consequences.
- Despite his professional brilliance, his chronic ill temper alienated many colleagues.
- The biography delicately explores the roots of the artist's profound ill temper, linking it to his creative struggles.
- Her feigned civility would often fracture, revealing the ill temper simmering beneath the surface.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'ill' as in 'sick' or 'bad' and 'temper' as in 'mood' – a sick/bad mood that someone frequently has.
Conceptual Metaphor
BAD TEMPER IS A DISEASE / ILLNESS (implied by 'ill'). ANGER IS HEAT (associated with temper).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'больной характер'. It is not an illness of character, but a bad temper.
- Do not confuse with 'плохое настроение' (bad mood), which is more transient. 'Ill temper' implies a trait.
- Not equivalent to 'вспыльчивость' (hot-headedness) alone, which is more about quickness to anger. Ill temper includes sustained irritability.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'He is ill temper') instead of a noun phrase (e.g., 'He has an ill temper').
- Confusing it with a single incident of anger rather than a habitual state.
- Misspelling as 'ill-tempered' (which is the adjective form).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes 'ill temper'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are largely synonymous, though 'ill temper' can sound slightly more formal or literary.
Yes, but it is a somewhat formal description. In everyday speech, terms like 'tantrums', 'moodiness', or 'bad temper' are more common for children.
'Ill temper' is a noun phrase describing the state or trait. 'Ill-tempered' is an adjective used to describe a person or thing (e.g., an ill-tempered remark).
It is not extremely common in casual conversation, where simpler terms like 'grumpy' or 'in a bad mood' are used. It remains in use in writing, formal descriptions, and literary contexts.