in the heat of the moment

in the heat of the moment

Meaning:

• saying or doing something without thinking due go anger or excitement
• being overwhelmed by what is happening at the moment
• saying or doing something thoughtless as a response to the experience of the moment

Example:

1. He really didn't mean what he said about you. He said it in the heat of the moment.
2. He was very stressed and frustrated and in the heat of the moment, quit his job.
3. She had a big argument with her husband and in the heat of the moment, left him.
4. He lost his head in the heat of the moment and tried to hit the police officer.
5. In sports, most offences are actually committed in the heat of the moment. The offenders usually rue their actions later.
6. He was fed up with the incessant phone calls he was receiving and in the heat of the moment, banged his phone down hard on the table, breaking it.
7. We often do things in the heat of the moment, only to regret it later.
8. He lost his cool during the meeting and in the heat of the moment, shouted at his boss and called him names.

Origin:
This phrase has been in use since the latter part of the 1900s. The origin is not clear.