Language is full of colors, and idioms are one of the best ways to paint vivid pictures with words. An idiom is a common expression where the meaning is different from the literal words used.
For example, when someone says “spill the beans,” they don’t mean beans are actually falling, but rather that a secret is revealed. Idioms add depth and personality to conversations, stories, and even professional writing.
When it comes to emotions, idioms make language richer and more expressive. Hate is one of the strongest emotions humans feel, and English has plenty of idioms that describe dislike, anger, and resentment.
These idioms help speakers avoid repetition and express feelings more naturally. If you’re learning English or want to expand your vocabulary, idioms for hate can make your communication sharper, more fluent, and much more relatable.
Did You Know?
The word “hate” comes from Old English hatan, which means “to pursue with hostility.” Many idioms about hate in English are centuries old, passed down from times when people expressed dislike in poetic, dramatic ways. That’s why idioms for hate often sound more powerful and vivid than just saying “I don’t like it.”
Idioms Showing Strong Hate or Intense Dislike
Hate Someone’s Guts
Meaning: To dislike someone very strongly.
Example: She hates his guts after what he did to her friend.
Alternative: Can’t stand someone.
Note: Commonly used in informal speech when emotions are very strong.
Bear a Grudge
Meaning: To hold anger or hatred for a long time.
Example: He still bears a grudge against his neighbor for that argument years ago.
Alternative: Hold resentment.
Note: Often used in both formal and informal contexts.
Have It In for Someone
Meaning: To dislike someone and want to cause them problems.
Example: The teacher seems to have it in for him all the time.
Alternative: Be against someone.
Note: Usually used when dislike leads to action or bias.
Rub Someone the Wrong Way
Meaning: To annoy or irritate someone, often leading to dislike.
Example: His arrogant tone really rubs me the wrong way.
Alternative: Get on someone’s nerves.
Note: Used in daily conversations about irritation.
At Each Other’s Throats
Meaning: Constantly arguing or fighting out of hatred.
Example: The two brothers are always at each other’s throats.
Alternative: Fight like cats and dogs.
Note: Often used for family, friends, or coworkers in conflict.
Have a Chip on One’s Shoulder
Meaning: To be angry or hostile because of past resentment.
Example: He always seems to have a chip on his shoulder about losing that promotion.
Alternative: Hold a grudge.
Note: Describes long-term bitterness.
The Ire of Someone
Meaning: The anger or hatred directed at someone.
Example: His careless remark drew the ire of the entire team.
Alternative: Wrath.
Note: Slightly formal, often seen in writing or news.
Bad Blood
Meaning: Ongoing hatred between people.
Example: There’s bad blood between the two families.
Alternative: Bitter rivalry.
Note: Often used for groups or long histories of dislike.
Idioms Expressing Irritation and Annoyance
Get on Someone’s Nerves
Meaning: To irritate or annoy.
Example: His constant humming gets on my nerves.
Alternative: Drive someone crazy.
Note: Common in casual conversations.
Drive Someone Up the Wall
Meaning: To make someone extremely annoyed.
Example: That loud noise is driving me up the wall.
Alternative: Push someone over the edge.
Note: Informal, often used in daily life.
Ruffle Someone’s Feathers
Meaning: To upset or annoy someone.
Example: Her comments ruffled a lot of feathers during the meeting.
Alternative: Step on someone’s toes.
Note: Often used in workplace or polite settings.
A Pain in the Neck
Meaning: Something or someone very annoying.
Example: Dealing with paperwork is such a pain in the neck.
Alternative: A nuisance.
Note: Informal, widely used.
Give Someone the Cold Shoulder
Meaning: To ignore someone out of dislike.
Example: He gave me the cold shoulder after our fight.
Alternative: Snub someone.
Note: Common in both daily and professional contexts.
Rattle Someone’s Cage
Meaning: To deliberately annoy or provoke someone.
Example: He loves rattling his brother’s cage just for fun.
Alternative: Push someone’s buttons.
Note: Informal and playful, though can also mean real dislike.
Push Someone’s Buttons
Meaning: To trigger someone’s anger or frustration.
Example: Don’t push his buttons; he’s already angry.
Alternative: Set someone off.
Note: Common in casual speech.
Idioms About Long-Term Hatred or Rivalry
A Bone to Pick
Meaning: Having a reason for complaint or anger.
Example: I have a bone to pick with you about yesterday’s mistake.
Alternative: Take issue with.
Note: Polite but indicates strong dissatisfaction.
Cross Swords With
Meaning: To fight or argue with someone.
Example: The two politicians often cross swords during debates.
Alternative: Lock horns.
Note: Slightly formal, often used in media.
A Thorn in Someone’s Side
Meaning: A person or thing that causes constant irritation.
Example: The opposition party has been a thorn in the side of the government.
Alternative: A constant nuisance.
Note: Common in both formal and informal contexts.
No Love Lost
Meaning: Strong dislike between two people.
Example: There’s no love lost between the two rivals.
Alternative: Mutual hatred.
Note: Formal or literary in tone.
Fight Like Cats and Dogs
Meaning: To argue or fight frequently.
Example: The siblings fight like cats and dogs.
Alternative: At each other’s throats.
Note: Very common idiom in family contexts.
Bitter Pill to Swallow
Meaning: Something hard to accept, often leading to resentment.
Example: Losing the contract was a bitter pill to swallow.
Alternative: Hard to take.
Note: Formal or reflective situations.
Carry a Torch Against Someone
Meaning: To keep resentment or hatred for a long time.
Example: He’s been carrying a torch against his old boss for years.
Alternative: Harbor resentment.
Note: Slightly poetic or old-fashioned.
Make Someone’s Blood Boil
Meaning: To make someone extremely angry.
Example: His rude behavior makes my blood boil.
Alternative: Enrage.
Note: Strong, expressive phrase.
To Spit Venom
Meaning: To speak with hatred or anger.
Example: She was spitting venom at him after the argument.
Alternative: Lash out.
Note: Dramatic, informal usage.
Idioms About Hatred in Social Behavior
Cut Someone Dead
Meaning: To completely ignore someone in public.
Example: She cut him dead at the party.
Alternative: Snub.
Note: Old-fashioned but still understood.
Freeze Someone Out
Meaning: To exclude someone deliberately.
Example: They froze him out of the project discussions.
Alternative: Give the cold shoulder.
Note: Common in workplace politics.
Blacklist Someone
Meaning: To officially exclude or ban someone out of dislike.
Example: The company blacklisted suppliers who cheated them.
Alternative: Boycott.
Note: Used in professional and formal contexts.
Burn Bridges
Meaning: To destroy a relationship permanently, often out of hate.
Example: He burned bridges with his old company by insulting them.
Alternative: Cut ties.
Note: Both personal and professional use.
Stab Someone in the Back
Meaning: To betray someone, leading to hatred.
Example: He stabbed me in the back by telling the boss my secret.
Alternative: Betray.
Note: Common in daily speech.
Poison the Well
Meaning: To harm someone’s reputation or relationship out of hate.
Example: She poisoned the well by spreading lies about him.
Alternative: Tarnish reputation.
Note: Often used in professional or serious contexts.
Throw Someone Under the Bus
Meaning: To betray someone for personal gain.
Example: He threw his colleague under the bus to save himself.
Alternative: Backstab.
Note: Informal, workplace expression.
How to Use These Idioms in Daily Life
Idioms for hate are powerful tools for expression. You can:
- In speaking: Use them to sound more fluent and natural. Instead of saying “I really dislike him,” you could say “I hate his guts.”
- In writing: These idioms add flair to stories, essays, and blogs. For example, “The families had bad blood for decades” is more vivid than “They disliked each other.”
- In professional life: Some idioms, like bear a grudge or ruffle feathers, fit well in workplace communication, while others like hate someone’s guts are best avoided in formal emails.
Common Mistakes Learners Make With Idioms
- Wrong Context
❌ He drives me up the wall in the exam report.
✅ He drives me up the wall when he keeps interrupting me. - Too Literal
❌ She really spit venom at the party table. (sounds like actual venom)
✅ She was spitting venom during the argument. - Mixing Idioms Incorrectly
❌ He cut his blood boil with anger.
✅ He made my blood boil with anger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Are idioms for hate polite to use?
Not always. Some idioms are informal or harsh, like hate someone’s guts, while others like bear a grudge are neutral enough for formal use.
Q2: Can idioms for hate be used in professional writing?
Yes, but carefully. Phrases like ruffle feathers or bad blood work in reports, but avoid extreme ones like spit venom.
Q3: Do native speakers use these idioms often?
Yes. Many of these idioms are common in conversations, TV shows, and even newspapers.
Q4: What’s the difference between “bad blood” and “no love lost”?
Both show dislike, but bad blood often refers to ongoing resentment, while no love lost means open mutual hatred.
Q5: How can I practice idioms for hate?
Try writing short dialogues or stories using 3–5 idioms. Practice them in conversations with friends to make them feel natural.
Conclusion
Idioms make English far more expressive than simple words ever could. When it comes to strong emotions like hate, these expressions add intensity, drama, and clarity.
Whether you say someone gets on your nerves, or that there’s bad blood between two people, idioms allow you to capture feelings vividly.
The key is knowing when to use them — casual chats, stories, or even professional discussions — and when to keep things simple.
By learning idioms for hate, you not only expand your vocabulary but also understand English the way native speakers truly use it. Keep exploring idioms, and your language skills will grow sharper every day.
