頭(あたま)に来(く)る

あたまにくる
expression
to get angry; to lose one's temper
informalcolloquialidiomemotion
1. to get angry; to be infuriated; to lose one's temper
To become angry, said of a sudden flare-up rather than a slow build. Literally 'it comes to the head.' Colloquial and forceful, used mainly about oneself in casual speech.
その言(い)い方(かた)には頭(あたま)に来(き)た。
The way he said that made me angry.
約束(やくそく)を破(やぶ)られて本当(ほんとう)に頭(あたま)に来(き)た。
I was really furious that they broke their promise.
頭(あたま)に来(き)たときは、一度(いちど)深呼吸(しんこきゅう)するようにしている。
When I get angry, I make a point of taking one deep breath.
何度(なんど)注意(ちゅうい)しても同(おな)じミスをくり返(かえ)すので、さすがに頭(あたま)に来(き)てしまった。
He kept making the same mistake no matter how often I warned him, so I finally lost my temper.

Structure: 頭(あたま) (head) + に + 来(く)る (to come). The past 頭(あたま)に来(き)た is by far the most common form.

Common patterns

Similar words

  • 腹(はら)が立(た)つ: to get angry — the standard, less charged expression, usable in writing
  • ムカつく: to be pissed off — slangier and younger-sounding
  • 怒(おこ)る: to get angry, to scold — the plain verb; also covers telling someone off

Usage

Too casual for business or formal writing; use 腹(はら)が立(た)つ there. Said of another person it can sound accusatory, so it usually describes the speaker's own reaction.

Related Words

Related: 腹(はら)が立(た)つ (to get angry (standard expression))
Compare: ムカつく (to be pissed off)
Compare: 怒(おこ)る (to get angry, to scold)

Related Articles

Body-Part Idioms
general
Added 2026.8.12 12:18 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
30500/30587_atamanikuru