- Meaning angry, annoyed, irritated, or resentful.
Explanation
Origin
- Pissed meaning drunk is older (early 20th c., primarily UK).
- Pissed off meaning angry emerged in the mid-20th century, possibly from British or American military slang.
- The exact connection is unclear, but it likely relates to a feeling of intense agitation or being unpleasantly stirred up. The off adds emphasis, similar to ticked off.
- It does *not* directly relate to urination itself, despite the root word.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Ticked off / Ticked
- Mad (esp. US) / Hopping mad
- Cheesed off (UK/Aus)
- Narked (UK/Aus)
- Salty (Newer slang for resentful/bitter)
- Bent out of shape
- Got my back up
- Steamed / Steamed up
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Fucking pissed off / Pissed as fuck
- Mad as fuck / Angry as fuck
- Raging
Milder:
- Annoyed / Irritated
- Upset
- Bothered
- Put out
- Frustrated
- Angry / Mad (Can be neutral depending on tone)
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal and considered vulgar or taboo by some.
- Avoid in formal settings, professional emails, job interviews, or when speaking to strangers, elders, or authority figures unless the relationship is very informal.
- Common and generally acceptable among close friends and peers in casual conversation.
- **Crucial Note:** In British, Australian, and New Zealand English, pissed *alone* typically means drunk. Pissed off means angry in all varieties.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The UK/Aus/NZ vs. US meaning of pissed (drunk vs. angry) is the most critical point.
- Learners should also understand its informal and mildly vulgar status; it's not neutral language for 'angry'.
Examples
- He was really pissed off when he found out they lied to him.
- I'm still pissed off about missing that train.
- Don't mention the argument; she's still pissed off.
Dialogue
Sam: You seem quiet. Everything okay?
Alex: Not really. I'm pretty pissed off. My boss took credit for my idea in the meeting today.
Sam: What? No way! That's awful. You should be pissed off.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Just got a parking ticket for being 2 minutes over. So pissed off right now! 🤬 #parkingfail #unfair
- Reddit Post Title: [Rant] Pissed off that my landlord won't fix the heating.
- Comment: Dude, I'd be pissed off too if someone did that. Totally justified.
Response Patterns
- Caution/Avoidance: Okay, I'll steer clear., Better let him cool down.
- Concern/Inquiry: Why? What happened?, What are you pissed off about?
- Defensiveness (if accused): It wasn't my fault!, Why are you pissed off at me?
- Apology (if responsible): I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to make you angry.
- Agreement/Validation: I'd be pissed off too., You have every right to be.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Someone hearing this will likely ask about the cause (What happened?, Why are you/they pissed off?).
- The person who is pissed off might vent their anger, explain the situation, withdraw, or act confrontationally depending on their personality and the context.
Conversation Starter
- No. Describes an existing emotional state resulting from an event.
Intonation
- Said with clear anger, annoyance, or resentment.
- Stress is usually heavy on PISSED. She's really PISSED off.
- The tone can be sharp, cold, bitter, or heated.
Generation Differences
- Very common across most adult generations, particularly from teenagers through middle age. Less likely to be used by very formal older individuals.
Regional Variations
- Widely used in US, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ etc.
- Remember the regional difference: Pissed (UK/Aus/NZ = Drunk), Pissed off (Everywhere = Angry).