jump down someone's throat
Meaning
To react angrily and suddenly to someone, criticizing or yelling at them harshly (often over something small).
Origin
A vivid metaphor: as if you physically leap at someone’s throat in aggression. It emerged in 20th-century English as a figurative way to describe sudden, hostile verbal attacks.
Notes
Implies an overreaction: a sharp, hostile verbal attack. Informal; often used to tell someone not to be so aggressive or to describe someone’s temper.
Examples
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I just asked a question, and she immediately jumped down my throat.
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Don’t jump down his throat—he didn’t know the deadline had changed.
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The coach jumped down their throats after the careless turnover.
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If you jump down her throat every time she makes a mistake, she’ll stop speaking up.
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My manager jumped down my throat for being five minutes late, even though the train was delayed.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually appears as “jump down my/your/his/her/their throat” or “jump down someone’s throat.” Tense can change (jumped/jumping). Often used with negatives or requests: “Don’t jump down my throat.”
Synonyms
- snap at someone
- bite someone's head off
- tear into someone
- lay into someone
Antonyms
- keep one's cool
- take it easy
- be patient
- let it slide