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UKin the heat of the moment
/ɪnðə hˈiːt ɒvðə mˈəʊmənt/
/ɪnðə hˈiːt ʌvðə mˈoʊmənt/in the heat of the moment
[PHRASE]1
at a time when anger or excitement completely overwhelm one, preventing any rational thought to come to mind
What is the origin of the idiom "in the heat of the moment" and when to use it?
The idiom "in the heat of the moment" originated from the idea of heat as a metaphor for intense emotions or passion. It can be traced back to Shakespeare's play "Antony and Cleopatra" (Act III, Scene II), where Antony uses the phrase "heat of the moment" to describe the impulsive and passionate nature of his actions. The phrase gained further popularity in the 19th century and has since become a commonly used expression to describe acting impulsively or without careful consideration during emotionally charged situations.
Examples
1. We both said things we didn’t mean in the heat of the moment.
2. Now, in the heat of the moment, it can be hard to be calm like this.
3. You’re toast if you run out of ammo in a battle and it’s hard to get more in the heat of the moment.
4. But, Paul, who is himself a reserve police officer, wants me to understand how it feels to be caught in the heat of the moment with a gun in my hand.
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