Hatred, a powerful and often destructive emotion, has been articulated through various expressions in the English language. These phrases, rich with historical and cultural contexts, provide insight into how deeply ingrained this feeling can be. In this blog post, we explore 20 expressions related to hatred. Each one offers a unique perspective on aversion and animosity, giving us a linguistic toolkit for expressing these intense emotions in conversation or writing.
Expressions Related to Hatred
1. Bitter enemy
Meaning: Someone intensely disliked or opposed.
Example: They became bitter enemies after the dispute.
2. Bad blood
Meaning: Long-standing animosity or resentment between people.
Example: There’s bad blood between the two families.
3. Bear a grudge
Meaning: Maintain resentment or anger against someone for past offenses.
Example: He’s been bearing a grudge for years.
4. Have it in for
Meaning: Hold persistent ill will or intent to harm someone.
Example: She clearly has it in for her competitor.
5. At each other’s throats
Meaning: Fighting or arguing intensely.
Example: They were at each other’s throats all night.
6. Love to hate
Meaning: Enjoy disliking someone or something.
Example: He’s the character you love to hate.
7. Burn bridges
Meaning: Destroy relationships recklessly.
Example: He burned bridges with his harsh words.
8. Cut to the quick
Meaning: Deeply hurt someone’s feelings.
Example: Her remarks cut him to the quick.
9. A thorn in one’s side
Meaning: A constant source of annoyance.
Example: That issue has been a thorn in my side.
10. Hold with contempt
Meaning: Regard someone with disdain or disrespect.
Example: She holds her opponent with contempt.
11. Add fuel to the fire
Meaning: Worsen an already bad situation or increase anger.
Example: His comments just added fuel to the fire.
12. Make one’s blood boil
Meaning: Cause someone to be very angry.
Example: The unfair decision made her blood boil.
13. Not see eye to eye
Meaning: Not agree with someone.
Example: They often don’t see eye to eye.
14. Set one’s teeth on edge
Meaning: Annoy or irritate someone greatly.
Example: His constant whistling sets my teeth on edge.
15. Wash one’s hands of
Meaning: Disassociate oneself from an activity or person.
Example: I’m washing my hands of this whole affair.
16. Bear malice toward
Meaning: Have a desire to harm others or wish them ill.
Example: He doesn’t bear malice toward anyone.
17. Blood is thicker than water
Meaning: Family relationships are stronger than other relationships.
Example: When it came down to it, blood was thicker than water.
18. At loggerheads
Meaning: In strong disagreement.
Example: The partners were at loggerheads over the decision.
19. Give someone the cold shoulder
Meaning: Deliberately ignore or snub someone.
Example: She gave him the cold shoulder at the party.
20. Kick against the pricks
Meaning: Resist or rebel against something that is inevitable.
Example: He was just kicking against the pricks with his protests.
