Idiom
A short fuse
What does 'have a short fuse' mean?
'Have a short fuse' means becoming angry very easily and quickly, often over minor problems. For example, 'The receptionist has a short fuse when callers are left on hold too long.' Use 'a shorter fuse' when temporary stress, tiredness or hunger makes someone less patient than usual. The idiom is informal and can sound critical.
Key points
- The idiom describes a recurring tendency towards quick anger.
- Keep the indefinite article 'a' before 'short fuse'.
- Use 'a shorter fuse' for temporary irritability.
- A single justified outburst does not prove this trait.
Can you use "A short fuse" yourself?
This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.
Stage 1 of 5
Understand
What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.
The full explanation
To have a short fuse means to become angry very easily and quickly after little or no provocation.
Our kitchen manager has a short fuse when food deliveries arrive late.
Why it works: The manager gets irritated easily by ordinary supply delays.
2 more examples
-
Lack of sleep gave several team members a shorter fuse than usual during the audit.
The comparative shorter fuse describes temporary irritability caused by exhaustion.
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One firm disagreement does not prove that your coworker has a short fuse.
A repeated pattern over time is required to justify using this idiom.
Read the full guide
Recognize when quick anger reflects a recurring pattern
When you observe a colleague snapping at teammates after minor inconveniences, you must decide whether that anger is an isolated incident or a habit. The idiom have a short fuse describes an individual who reacts angrily with very little provocation. The metaphor comes from explosives, where a shorter cord burns down quickly and triggers an immediate blast. In everyday English, this phrase highlights how quickly irritation erupts rather than how loud the anger sounds.
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Our shift supervisor has a short fuse whenever printers jam.
Why it works: The supervisor becomes irritated rapidly over a minor technical malfunction.
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He inherited a calm demeanor, but his brother has a short fuse.
Why it works: The contrast shows an enduring personal tendency rather than a temporary mood.
Your turn
Which situation best illustrates someone who has a short fuse?
Answer: A chef shouts furiously at an assistant who misplaced a single spoon.
Show the answer
Answer: A chef shouts furiously at an assistant who misplaced a single spoon.
A short fuse describes an intense angry reaction triggered by very small problems or minor provocation.
Keep the indefinite article in the idiomatic frame
Learners often omit the article a because they treat anger as an uncountable concept. In this idiomatic structure, however, fuse remains a countable singular noun that requires the indefinite article a. You will usually place this phrase after verbs like have, possess, or develop. Dropping the article sounds ungrammatical to native speakers, while adding an inappropriate plural form distorts the intended expression entirely.
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She has a short fuse in the morning before drinking coffee.
Why it works: The sentence correctly retains the indefinite article a before short fuse.
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New drivers often develop a short fuse when navigating heavy traffic.
Why it works: The verb develop pairs naturally with a short fuse to show an emerging pattern.
This also comes up in A mean streak and Keep a low profile.
Your turn
Which sentence uses the correct grammatical form of the idiom?
Answer: David has a short fuse whenever clients ask for minor changes.
Show the answer
Answer: David has a short fuse whenever clients ask for minor changes.
The expression requires the indefinite article a before short fuse because fuse is a countable noun.
Use the comparative form to express temporary stress
Someone who normally maintains good patience may experience days when fatigue or external pressure reduces their tolerance. When you want to describe a temporary drop in patience without labeling someone as permanently aggressive, modify the adjective to shorter. Saying that someone has a shorter fuse than usual attributes the irritability to immediate circumstances like poor sleep, heavy workloads, or personal illness.
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Working back-to-back shifts gave the nurse a shorter fuse than usual.
Why it works: The comparative shorter indicates that exhaustion temporarily lowered her patience.
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I notice a shorter fuse in myself when I skip breakfast.
Why it works: The speaker observes temporary irritability caused by hunger rather than character.
Your turn
What does saying someone has 'a shorter fuse today' imply?
Answer: The person is temporarily less patient than normal due to immediate pressure.
Show the answer
Answer: The person is temporarily less patient than normal due to immediate pressure.
Using the comparative shorter fuse highlights a temporary decrease in patience rather than a permanent trait.
Distinguish a recurring trait from a justified outburst
A frequent error among adult speakers is labeling someone as having a short fuse after observing a single justified objection. If a contractor shouts because an unsafe scaffolding setup threatens worker lives, that reaction represents understandable alarm rather than a character defect. Reserve have a short fuse for repeated instances where trivial provocations produce disproportionate irritation across multiple ordinary situations.
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She objected sternly to the safety violation, but she does not have a short fuse.
Why it works: One firm or angry response to danger does not indicate a quick temper.
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He complains about noise, email tone, and room temperature because he has a short fuse.
Why it works: Irritation across multiple unrelated daily events confirms a repeated pattern.
Your turn
Why is it inaccurate to say an inspector has a short fuse for halting an unsafe machine?
Answer: Halting dangerous machinery is a justified safety action, not irrational anger.
Show the answer
Answer: Halting dangerous machinery is a justified safety action, not irrational anger.
A single justified or safety-related response does not prove an ongoing tendency to lose one's temper over trivial matters.
Choose objective language in sensitive workplace contexts
Describing an employee as having a short fuse carries a negative personal judgment. In formal performance evaluations or delicate mediation talks, using the phrase directly can cause defensiveness and worsen professional relationships. Neutral descriptions of observable actions, such as noting that someone responds abruptly under pressure or struggles with sudden schedule changes, communicate the same practical reality while keeping conversations constructive.
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In my feedback notes, I wrote that the vendor reacts abruptly to revisions.
Why it works: Using descriptive behavioral language avoids subjective character insults.
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Telling your manager that she has a short fuse will likely derail the meeting.
Why it works: Directly applying the idiom to superiors in formal settings creates unnecessary conflict.
Your turn
Which alternative is most suitable for a formal performance appraisal?
Answer: The employee occasionally reacts abruptly when handling urgent schedule revisions.
Show the answer
Answer: The employee occasionally reacts abruptly when handling urgent schedule revisions.
Describing concrete actions objectively maintains professional credibility without resorting to colloquial criticism.
Catch the stressed noun and reduced vowel in rapid speech
In natural spoken English, content words receive primary emphasis while functional grammar words reduce. Within the phrase have a short fuse, the words short and fuse carry clear tonic stress, while the indefinite article a reduces to a weak schwa sound. Listeners who expect a distinct, separated vowel often miss the article entirely and mistakenly transcribe the expression as have short fuse.
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You can hear the rhythm clearly in 'has a SHORT FUSE' during rapid speech.
Why it works: The two stressed syllables stand out while the article between them remains short and quiet.
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Native speakers blend 'has a' into a connected unit before emphasizing 'short'.
Why it works: Connected speech links the consonant to the unstressed schwa smoothly.
Your turn
How does the article 'a' sound in the spoken phrase 'has a short fuse'?
Answer: It reduces to an unstressed, weak schwa sound linked to the preceding verb.
Show the answer
Answer: It reduces to an unstressed, weak schwa sound linked to the preceding verb.
In fluent speech, the article 'a' is unstressed and pronounced as a weak schwa linked to 'has'.
Prevent errors with verbs, prepositions, and modifiers
Learners frequently introduce incorrect prepositions or verbs when attempting this idiom. Avoid saying make a short fuse or be in a short fuse. The standard collocation uses the verb have. When explaining what triggers the anger, connect the situation using when, whenever, or under pressure rather than forcing an unnatural preposition.
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He has a short fuse when teammates ignore technical guidelines.
Why it works: Using 'when' introduces the specific triggering condition naturally.
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Under tight deadlines, several designers show a shorter fuse.
Why it works: 'Under tight deadlines' sets the situational context without grammatical errors.
Your turn
Which sentence contains a common grammatical error with this idiom?
Answer: The chef is in a short fuse whenever orders are returned.
Show the answer
Answer: The chef is in a short fuse whenever orders are returned.
English speakers say 'have a short fuse' or 'show a short fuse'; 'be in a short fuse' is an incorrect collocation.
Incorporate balanced observations in written summaries
When writing summaries or case studies about interpersonal conflict, balance the idiom with context. Stating merely that an individual has a short fuse presents an incomplete picture. Strong writers provide the trigger, describe the resulting behavior, and explain how the team adjusted. This structure demonstrates advanced vocabulary while maintaining nuance and analytical depth.
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Although the lead programmer has a short fuse during testing cycles, her code remains flawless.
Why it works: The concession clause balances temper against technical competence.
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To accommodate his short fuse in the morning, we schedule design critiques after lunch.
Why it works: The sentence links the person's temperament to a practical team adjustment.
Your turn
Which written sentence best balances the idiom with practical context?
Answer: Because our editor has a short fuse before deadlines, we submit draft copy early.
Show the answer
Answer: Because our editor has a short fuse before deadlines, we submit draft copy early.
This sentence links the editor's temperament to a specific timeframe and explains the practical team solution.
Common mistakes with "a short fuse"
What learners often say, what to say instead, and why.
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Not this:
The receptionist has short fuse during busy periods.Say: The receptionist has a short fuse during busy periods.
The fixed expression requires the indefinite article 'a' before the singular noun 'fuse'.
-
Not this:
The receptionist is in a short fuse during busy periods.Say: The receptionist has a short fuse during busy periods.
The idiom uses 'have', not 'be in'.
-
Not this:
The receptionist makes a short fuse during busy periods.Say: The receptionist has a short fuse during busy periods.
The standard idiomatic verb is 'have', not 'make'.
Use it naturally
How people really use “have a short fuse”
Informal Relaxed; better with friends and colleagues than in formal writing.
Words it often goes with
- a short fuse under pressureMy brother has a short fuse under pressure, especially before a big performance.
- a shorter fuse than usualAfter a restless night, I had a shorter fuse than usual.
- a very short fuseThe coach has a very short fuse when players ignore instructions.
What people also say
- “She has a short fuse.” instead of “She becomes angry with great ease.”The idiom sounds natural in casual conversation about a recurring tendency.
Questions about "A short fuse"
Can I say someone has short fuse without the article a?
No. The idiom requires the indefinite article because 'fuse' functions here as a singular countable noun. Leaving out 'a' is a frequent learner error that sounds unnatural in spoken and written English. Always say 'has a short fuse' or 'had a short fuse'.
The project coordinator has a short fuse when meetings run late.
He noticed that she had a short fuse after traveling all night.
What is the difference between having a short fuse and being short-tempered?
Both expressions convey that someone becomes angry easily, but their grammatical role differs. 'Short-tempered' is a compound adjective used after a linking verb or directly before a noun, whereas 'have a short fuse' is an idiomatic verb phrase. In tone, 'short fuse' creates a more vivid visual image of an explosion.
She is short-tempered when deadlines approach.
She has a short fuse when deadlines approach.
How do I describe someone whose patience is temporarily worse than normal?
Use the comparative form 'a shorter fuse'. This phrasing expresses that stress, lack of sleep, or hunger has reduced someone's usual patience temporarily, without implying that the person is permanently irritable by nature.
Exhaustion gave our supervisor a shorter fuse than normal yesterday.
Is it polite to tell someone directly that they have a short fuse?
Telling someone directly 'you have a short fuse' is usually considered blunt and accusatory. In professional settings, describe specific behaviors or temporary stress instead. You might say someone seems pressed for time or under strain rather than labeling their personality directly.
You seem under considerable pressure today, so let us revisit this topic later.
Before you go
Remember this
Remember to include the article a, use shorter fuse for temporary fatigue, reserve the phrase for recurring patterns rather than justified single reactions, and select neutral phrasing for formal reviews.
Stage 2 of 5
Listen
Hear it in real sentences, from short to long, and write what you hear.
0 of 4 done
Listening 1 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- Lack of sleep gave several team members a shorter fuse than usual during the audit.
- One firm disagreement does not prove that your coworker has a short fuse.
Read the transcript
Our manager has a short fuse, so speak calmly.
The speaker advises quiet, polite speech because the manager gets irritated easily.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "ha-sa": "has a" flows together, with little stress on "a."
- The final t or d is barely said before the next consonant.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "ha-sa": "has a" flows together, with little stress on "a."
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "ha-sa": "has a" flows together, with little stress on "a."
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- Lack of sleep gave several team members a shorter fuse than usual during the audit.
- One firm disagreement does not prove that your coworker has a short fuse.
Read the transcript
Lack of sleep gave him a shorter fuse all morning.
The comparative form 'a shorter fuse' shows that fatigue temporarily lowered his patience.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "hi-ma": the final m in "him" flows into "a."
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "hi-ma": the final m in "him" flows into "a."
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "hi-ma": the final m in "him" flows into "a."
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- Lack of sleep gave several team members a shorter fuse than usual during the audit.
- One firm disagreement does not prove that your coworker has a short fuse.
Read the transcript
Marcus has a short fuse under pressure, so remain polite and explain the problem clearly. If an issue appears complex, ask an experienced supervisor for help.
The speaker provides practical advice on communicating calmly with someone who reacts quickly to stress.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
This clip is longer. Follow the instruction above the answer field.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
0:00
- Lack of sleep gave several team members a shorter fuse than usual during the audit.
- One firm disagreement does not prove that your coworker has a short fuse.
Read the transcript
Working in this kitchen requires patience during the evening rush. Chef Elena has a short fuse, especially when orders pile up, but her anger cools down quickly. Keep your station clean, listen carefully to instructions, and speak in a level tone. If an error happens, describe the problem immediately rather than making excuses.
The passage balances Chef Elena's quick temper with actionable strategies for smooth communication during dinner service.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "ha-sa": the end of "has" joins the unstressed "a" without a pause.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "ha-sa": the end of "has" joins the unstressed "a" without a pause.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "ha-sa": the end of "has" joins the unstressed "a" without a pause.
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Save my progressStage 3 of 5
Speak
Say it with the speaker, then use it in your own answer.
Shadow
Say it along with the speaker
Our manager has a short fuse, so speak calmly.
Play the line slowly, then speak at the same time as the speaker. Copy the rhythm, not just the words.
Your turn
Say it your way
Speak from memory for 30 to 60 seconds about a family board game night. Describe a relative's reaction to a disputed rule, consider whether it reflects their usual behavior or temporary stress, and suggest how to keep the game enjoyable.
Use: has a short fuse a shorter fuse than usual
Think for ten seconds, then answer out loud for as long as the task above asks, without looking at the lesson. Nothing is sent unless you ask for feedback.
0:00
Hear how someone else might say it
At our last family game night, my cousin snapped when we questioned how he counted his points. My sister says he has a short fuse, but I think that's a bit unfair. He's usually happy to laugh at his own mistakes. He'd spent the whole day moving apartments, so he probably had a shorter fuse than usual. I'd suggest taking a snack break and checking the rules together before continuing. That would give everyone time to settle down without making him feel singled out. After all, the point is to enjoy each other's company.
Try once more and answer this: How does your relative usually react when they lose?
Stage 4 of 5
Write
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Write
Put it in your own words
- I used “have a short fuse”.
- It is about my life, not the lesson’s example.
- I read it once aloud to check it sounds right.
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Read one possible response
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