be breathing fire

be breathing fire

To be strongly expressing one's anger, typically verbally. Unless you want to get yelled at, stay away from the boss today—he's breathing fire over that printing mishap.
See also: breathing, fire
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

be breathing fire

If someone is breathing fire, they are very angry about something. A highly emotional time will have you breathing fire at one moment and in tears at another. One Democratic legislator who was breathing fire over the Weinberger indictment yesterday was Brooks.
See also: breathing, fire
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • breathe fire
  • spit blood
  • spit blood/venom/feathers
  • spit nails
  • be spitting feathers
  • let (one) have it
  • let have it
  • let me have it
  • Let me have it!
  • let somebody have it
References in periodicals archive
But blonde Jessica, who is carnival queen in her home town of Melksham, Wilts, won't be breathing fire at the festivities this weekend - because the flames might damage her lipstick.