- Meaning
- This idiom describes someone who is extremely irritable, grumpy, or bad-tempered, often due to discomfort, frustration, or a specific grievance, as if behaving like a bear nursing a painful injury. It conveys a state of surly, volatile moodiness, used in social, familial, or workplace contexts to highlight an unpleasant demeanor, carrying a tone of sympathy, humor, or mild criticism. The phrase reflects cultural associations of bears with ferocity and the human tendency to lash out when in pain or distress, resonating in settings where mood swings disrupt harmony. It often implies a temporary state that others should navigate cautiously, capturing the delicate balance of dealing with someone’s foul temper without escalating conflict.
- Origin
- The phrase likely emerged in 18th-century Britain, tied to rural folklore where bears, though rare in England, were symbols of untamed aggression, often depicted in traveling menageries or tales. An early use appears in a 1789 *Gentleman’s Magazine* article, describing a man ‘like a bear with a sore head’ after a dispute. The idiom gained traction in the 19th century, reflecting Victorian fascination with animal metaphors, as seen in Charles Dickens’ *Dombey and Son* (1848), which uses similar imagery for grumpiness. Its use grew in British and American English, particularly in rural and working-class communities, and was popularized through 19th-century ballads and 20th-century literature, such as D.H. Lawrence’s *Sons and Lovers* (1913), which explores emotional volatility. The phrase’s adoption in Commonwealth English, notably Australia, was fueled by its rustic charm, and its spread through global media ensured its enduring use. Its vivid imagery, evoking a wounded animal’s ferocity, and its applicability to bad moods guaranteed its popularity across English-speaking cultures, from family kitchens to office break rooms.
- Variants
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- Like a bear with a sore head
- Bear with a sore head
- Like a bear with a sore paw
- Grumpy as a bear with a sore head
- Examples
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- He’s like a bear with a sore head today—best avoid him after that argument.
- Bear with a sore head, she snapped at everyone after the project failed.
- Like a bear with a sore paw, he grumbled through the meeting, upset about the delay.
- Grumpy as a bear with a sore head, she refused to talk until her coffee kicked in.
- They’re like bears with sore heads, irritable after the long, delayed flight.
- Like a bear with a sore head, he was unbearable until the deadline passed.
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