UPSET
ADJECTIVES
► ABAWED abashed; astonished; surprised; disconcerted; discomfited; upset → 1450 obs.
► AGGRIEVED upset or resentful at having been unfairly treated → 1820
► A-HUH upset, vexed, anxious → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► ALL OF A DOODAH upset, nervous, confused → 1900 sl.
► ALL SHOOK ► ALL SHOOK UP excited, stimulated, disturbed, upset → 1958 US sl.
► ALL TORE OUT in an emotionally aroused state; angry, excited, annoyed, upset, troubled → 1941 Amer. dial.
► BLINKY agitated, upset → 1992 US sl.
► BUGGIN’ upset → 20C teen & high school sl.
► BUMMED depressed, upset, sad; annoyed, angry → 1970 colloq., orig. & chiefly US
► CATTY-CORNER out of sorts, ill-tempered, annoyed, upset → 1884 Amer. dial.
► CATTY-CORNERED out of sorts, ill-tempered, annoyed, upset → 1954 Amer. dial.
► CHOKED emotionally upset, annoyed → 1964 UK sl.
► CHURNY agitated, stirred up, upset → 1969 Amer. dial.
► CONFUSSED confused and upset → 2009 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► CUT-UP annoyed, emotionally upset about someone or something → 1844 sl.
► EXERCISED upset, angered → 1996 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► FLAPPABLE easily upset or agitated → 20C colloq.
► GAGGED frustrated; upset → 1970 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► GAGGERED frustrated; upset → 1970 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► GRUE nervously upset or afraid → 1924 sl.
► GUTTED extremely shocked, upset, or disappointed → 1960 colloq.
► HAIRED OFF annoyed, furious, upset → 20C US sl.
► HAIRED UP ► HARED UP ► HARRED UP angry, enraged, upset, vexed, anxious → 1914 Amer. dial.
► HAIRY annoyed, furious, upset → 1910 sl.
► HALULU annoyed, upset; weak from fear → 1967 Hawaii
► HEIFERED UP annoyed, upset → 1941 Amer. dial.
► HET UP angry, upset, excited → 1862 Amer. dial.
► HORKED disturbed; upset → 1970 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► ILL-SORTED badly suited; displeased, upset → 1815 Sc.
► IN A FLUFF annoyed, upset → 1970 Amer. dial.
► IN A STEW upset → 1995 US sl. (Bk.)
► IN A TWIT upset, frantic → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► JACKED UP upset; anxious; stressed → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► JAMMED troubled, upset → 1970 US sl.
► MAD AS A CUT SNAKE very upset or angry about something → 20C Aust. sl.
► MIFFED annoyed and disappointed; upset → 1811 sl.
► MIFFY easily upset; oversensitive → 20C colloq.
► MISPUT annoyed, put out, upset, pouting → 1898 Amer. dial.
► MOILED upset, worried → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► NEEDLED upset, annoyed → 1879 sl.
► ON ONE’S EAR annoyed, upset → 1897 Amer. sl.
► ON THE TABLE worried; upset → 1970 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► ON THE TITTUP in a state of excitement; mentally upset → 1906 Eng. dial.
► ONKERS ► ONKUS of people: upset, disagreeable, out of sorts → 1908 Aust. & NZ sl.
► PEEVED annoyed, upset; cross → 1908 colloq.
► PUSHED OUT OF SHAPE upset, angry → 1960 sl.
► RACKED UP upset → 1970 US sl.
► SHOOK UP excited; disturbed; upset → 20C Amer. sl.
► SHREDDED very upset → 2001 sl.
► SICK AS MUD very depressed or upset → 1930 sl.
► SORE annoyed, upset → 1694
► SPARE very angry or upset → 2012 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► TEMPERED angry, irritated, annoyed, upset → 1942 Amer. dial.
► TICKLE fastidious, dainty, squeamish; easily upset or disordered → 1456 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► TICKLISH unstably balanced or poised; easily unbalanced or upset; unsteady → 1601
► TIPPITY easily upset → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► TIPPY easily upset → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► TOOSHIE angry, upset → 20C Aust. sl.
► TORE OUT in an emotionally aroused state; angry, excited, annoyed, upset, troubled → 1903 Amer. dial.
► TORE-UP adj. in an emotionally aroused state; angry, excited, annoyed, upset, troubled → 1867 Amer. dial.
► TORN OUT in an emotionally aroused state; angry, excited, annoyed, upset, troubled → 1903 Amer. dial.
► TORN-UP in an emotionally aroused state; angry, excited, annoyed, upset, troubled → 1855 Amer. dial.
► TORQUED angry; upset → 1960 African-American sl.
► TOTALLED mentally upset → 1966 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► UP upset → 1970 US sl.
► UP IN THE AIR annoyed, irritated; anxious, upset → 1906 Amer. dial.
► WRECKED very upset → 1980 US students’ sl.
NOUNS
► AGITA upset, annoyance; anxiety, agitation → 1979 US sl.
► DISCABOOBULATION disarray, discomposure, discomfiture; a state of upset, perplexity → 1986 Amer. dial.
► DISCOMBOBOLATION disarray, discomposure, discomfiture; a state of upset, perplexity → 1911 Amer. dial.
► DISCOMBOBULATION disarray, discomposure, discomfiture; a state of upset, perplexity → 1839 Amer. dial.
► QUIM-QUAMS mild emotional upset → 1967 Amer. dial.
► SPAZ ATTACK an upset, excited condition → 1968 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► WALT an upset → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► WALTER an upset, upheaval, overthrow → 1563 obs.
► WHAMMY something that is upsetting or sets you back → 1961 US sl.
NOUNS – PERSON
► BASKET CASE a person who is seriously upset, or mentally disturbed → 1953
PHRASES
► SHE’S A TWENTY-NINE THIS MORNING very angry or upset; usually said of a wife → 1999 Can. sl.
VERBS
► AG ► AGG to annoy, to upset, to bother → 1980 sl.
► AILD to make mildly ill; to trouble or upset → 1903 Amer. dial.
► ANNOY to upset, to distress → 1991 Irish sl.
► BACKSET to disgust or upset → 1866 Sc.
► BARF OUT to become very upset; to freak out → 1993 sl. (Bk.)
► BE ILL TAKEN to be anxious, disturbed or mentally upset → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► BOULEVERSE to upset, to overturn, to throw into utter disorder → 1673 obs.
► CHEW FIRE to be upset, angry, or annoyed → 1949 Amer. dial.
► CHEW ONE’S BITS ► CHEW THE BIT to be eager, anxious, or impatient; to be annoyed, upset, or angry → 1939 Amer. dial.
► COME OVER ALL PECULIAR to feel suddenly physically indisposed or emotionally upset → 2003 UK sl.
► COME OVER ALL QUEER to feel suddenly physically indisposed or emotionally upset → 1937 UK sl.
► COUP THE CRANS to have an upset; to come to grief → 1796
► DOG to nag, to pester, to harass; to mistreat, to upset → 1896 Amer. dial.
► DO ONE’S NUT to be very angry, anxious, or upset; to lose one’s temper; to lose emotional control; to get worked up → 1919 sl.
► DROP YOUR BUNDLE to become very nervous or upset; to lose one’s composure; to go to pieces → 1847 Aust. sl.
► EAT to upset, to anger → 1995 US sl. (Bk.)
► FLIP OUT to lose control of one’s emotional state; to become very upset and irrational → 1995 US sl. (Bk.)
► FREAK OUT to lose control of one’s emotional state; to become very upset and irrational → 1995 US sl. (Bk.)
► FRY to upset; to anger → 1960 US sl.
► GET BENT to act upset → 1970 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► GET ONE’S KNICKERS IN A TWIST to become angrily agitated or upset; to behave frenziedly → 1971 Brit. sl.
► GET ONE’S LAUNDRY IN A BUNDLE to become upset or angry → 1966 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► GET UP A PERSON’S NOSE to upset, annoy, or irritate a person → 1951 sl.
► GO SPARE to become upset, angry, or distracted → 1958 Brit. sl.
► HAVE A COW to become extremely upset → 1971 US students’ sl.
► HAVE A WILLY ► TAKE A WILLY to be very upset or alarmed → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► JAR to surprise, to upset, to disturb, to shock → 1897 Amer. dial.
► JERK SOMEONE’S CHAIN ► JERK SOMEONE’S STRING to upset someone, esp. by teasing or harassing; to anger someone → 1980 Amer. sl.
► KECK to upset; to overbalance → 1901 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► LOSE ONE’S NANNY to lose one’s head, to become upset or angry → 1908 sl.
► MAKE HAY OF to throw into confusion, to turn topsy-turvy, to upset → 1703
► MAKE PIGS AND WHISTLES OF to upset or perturb very greatly → 1862 colloq.
► MUCKLE to bother, to disturb, to upset → 1916 Amer. dial.
► PISS ONESELF to become angrily agitated or upset → 1969 sl.
► PULL SOMEONE’S CHAIN to elicit someone’s anger or annoyance, esp. deliberately; to nag; to upset someone, esp. by teasing or harassing; → 1962 US sl.
► PUT ABOUT to upset, to distress → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► PUT A PERSON’S NOSE OUT OF JOINT to annoy, upset or disconcert a person; to spoil a person’s plans → 1662
► PUT THE BOOT IN to cause further upset or harm to someone already in distress → 1999 (Bk.)
► RAKE to hurt, to upset, to cause discomfort to → 1790 Sc.
► RAMVERSE to capsize, to upset → 1593 obs.
► RATTLE SOMEONE’S CAGE ► RATTLE SOMEONE’S CHAIN ► RATTLE SOMEONE’S STRING to upset someone, esp. by teasing or harassing; to anger someone → 1980 Amer. sl.
► ROUGH UP to upset, to irritate, to ruffle → 1877
► SCALE to spill, to upset; to overflow → 1641 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► SHATTER to greatly upset or discompose → 1785
► SKAIL to pour out; to shed; to spill, to upset; to overflow → 1513 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
► SPIT THE DUMMY to get very upset at something → 2012 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► STURB to disturb, to trouble, to upset → 1225 obs.
► SUBVERSE to subvert, to upset → 1590
► SUBVERT to upset, to overturn an object → 1543 obs.
► TAKE ON to be very upset or distraught → 19C colloq.
► TEAR UP to upset, to anger, to embarrass → 1959 Amer. dial.
► THROW OUT OF GEAR to upset in mind or body → 1868 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► THRUST A PERSON’S NOSE OUT OF JOINT to annoy, upset or disconcert a person; to spoil a person’s plans → 1581 obs.
► TIPPLE to upset, to overturn; to turn a somersault → 1866 Eng. dial.
► TO-TURN to overthrow, to upset → 1382 obs.
► TURN SOMEONE OVER to upset, to distress → 1865 sl.
► UPDUMP to upset, to overturn something → 1908 Amer. dial.
► VERSE to overthrow, to overturn, to upset → 1556 obs.
► WALT 1. to throw, to cast, to toss out, over, etc.; to fling to the ground; to overturn, to upset → 1300 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
2. to be thrown down, to fall over, to be upset or overturned; to totter; to lean to one side → 1400 obs.
► WET ONESELF to become angrily agitated or upset → 1970 sl.
► WET ONE’S PANTS to become angrily agitated or upset → 1970 sl.
► WORK ONESELF UP to allow oneself to get very upset → 20C Amer. sl.
► WRENCH to disrupt or upset someone → 1976 US sl.
► YANK SOMEONE’S CHAIN ► YANK SOMEONE’S STRING to upset someone, esp. by teasing or harassing; to anger someone → 1980 Amer. sl.
Lexicophilia 