YouTube / iTunes / Spotify / Radio Public / Pocket Casts / Google Podcasts / Breaker / Overcast
Listen to ArtisanEnglish.jp posts & lesson intros here.
Idiom: Tempers flare
There are two topics I tell my students never to discuss with native English speakers to avoid a situation in which tempers flare.
The first is politics, and the second is religion.
The idiom tempers flare means that people become outraged or lose their cool in a situation.
It often describes moments when emotions run high, and conflicts may arise.
However, tempers flare in both positive and negative situations.
In a negative context, tempers flare during arguments or disagreements.
For instance, during a heated political debate, someone might get so passionate that tempers flare.
This can lead to shouting or harsh words, which might hurt relationships.
It’s essential to manage these moments when tempers flare to prevent saying things we might regret later.
On the other hand, tempers can also flare in positive situations.
For example, during a sports event, the excitement can be so intense that tempers flare among fans, but in a happy way.
Cheers and supportive shouts can create a lively atmosphere where everyone shares the joy of their team’s success.
Here, tempers flare not out of anger but out of enthusiasm and passion.
In both cases, understanding the reasons behind why tempers flare is essential.
When disagreements happen, it’s a chance for us to listen and understand each other better.
Likewise, when tempers flare in joy, it’s a reminder of how deeply we care about our interests and those around us.
To sum up, while tempers flare when people feel angry and may lead to conflict, we should also recognize the positive energy it can represent.
Whether in joy or frustration, moments when tempers flare are part of being human.
Learning to navigate or avoid these moments can help us grow in our relationships and emotional understanding.
Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test
This post is understandable by someone with at least an 8th-grade education (age 13 – 14).
On the Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease test, this post scores 60.
The easier a passage is to read, the higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100.
