In the heat of the moment meaning

"to do something in the heat of the moment"

Meaning: to do something without thinking about the consequences while one is very excited, angry, surprised, etc.

Similar Expressions

  • I punched him in the heat of the moment.
  • I punched him without thinking about it.
  • I got angry and just punched him.
  • I just punched him without thinking about what I was doing.

When do we use it?

Sometimes, when we feel a strong emotion, we do things without thinking about the consequences or effect of our action.

This expression is usually used when we are talking about something we did when we were very angry, excited, or eager. We can use this for positive or negative actions.

  • We were arguing and I got very angry and in the heat of the moment, I punched him.
  • I didn't think before I tackled the robber. I just did it in the heat of the moment.

How do we use it?

We can put this expression after the action.

  • We did it in the heat of the moment.
  • Everybody was happy and celebrating and I just kissed her in the heat of the moment.

We can also this expression before the action.

  • Everybody was running and screaming because of the fire, and in the heat of the moment I just picked up the child and ran out of the building.
  • The players were playing very hard, and in the heat of the moment, our best player made a huge mistake.

We can also use this expression at the beginning of a sentence.

  • In the heat of the moment, it is difficult to make the right decision.
  • In the heat of the moment, we yelled at each other and said things that we regret now.

Adding expressions and idioms to your vocabulary will help you become a better English speaker. You do not need to learn a million expressions or idioms at one time! If you study new English expressions and idioms steadily and consistently, then your vocabulary will get better and better. Use these free English lessons to expand your vocabulary and learn useful English idioms, slang, and expressions.

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in the heat of the moment - phrase

at time when you cannot think carefully

Synonyms:

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Synonyms:unstructured, haphazard, chaotic, undisciplined, disorganized, unplanned, uncoordinated, hit-and-miss, all over the place

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Our very last Idiom of the Week of the 2014-2015 school year:

In the heat of the moment meaning

Meaning: Used to describe something done suddenly in an emergency or very stressful situation.

Examples:

In the heat of the moment I said some words I shouldn’t have. I apologize.

He didn’t know why he started running away. He did it in the heat of the moment.

It’s difficult to think rationally in the heat of the moment.

Pop Quiz:

If someone says, “I’m sorry. I did it in the heat of the moment,” what are they trying to say?

A.  They didn’t think before they did it.

B.  They meant to do it.

C.  It was so hot they felt dizzy.

To see the correct answer, click on “Continue reading”:

The correct answer is A.  If you do something in the heat of the moment, you do it quickly without much thought, usually in some kind of crazy or stressful situation. If you had the wrong answer, it was probably because you weren’t thinking clearly 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.

I 1 Thought

wash hands of ❯❮ hit the nail on the head

What does it mean to be in the heat of something?

In the most intense or active stage of some activity or condition. For example, One never knows how soldiers will behave in the heat of battle, or In the heat of the moment she accepted his proposal, or In the heat of the negotiations he forgot to call his wife. [ Late 1500s]

What's another way to say in the heat of the moment?

What is another word for in the heat of the moment?.

How do you use heat of the moment?

You use the expression 'In the Heat of the Moment' to indicate that you've said or done something without thinking because you were feeling angry or excited. Example of use: “I'm afraid I was very rude; I was caught up in the heat of the moment.”

What is a heat moment?

A moment in time when you realised things cannot go on as they are. These events are also referred to as 'heat moments' and can lead to big changes – for the better!