一怒之下

yīnùzhīxià
phrase #30,150

Meanings

  1. 1 in a fit of rage
  2. 2 in a flash of anger
  3. 3 out of anger

Examples

Tā yīnùzhīxià shuāi le shǒujī.
In a fit of rage he smashed his phone.
Tā yīnùzhīxià líkāi le gōngsī.
In a flash of anger she walked out of the company.

Tips

usage
Reads literally as 'under one anger' — a four-character set phrase used adverbially before a verb to describe an impulsive action driven by anger. Always indicates a single triggering moment, not sustained rage.
memory
Think (one) + (anger) + 之下 (under): 'under a single burst of anger.' The 之下 frame is also seen in 情急之下 (in a moment of panic) and 无奈之下 (with no choice but to).

Stroke Order

zhī
xià