“Keep your hair on” is an English idiom used to ask someone to be calm or patient. Similar idioms include “hold your shirt” and “hold your horses”. These phrases are informal and require humor to be used effectively.
The English idiom “keep your hair on” is something an English speaker might say to ask someone to be calm or to avoid getting angry or emotional about something. It can also mean patiently waiting for something. This phrase is one of several similar idioms that English speakers use to request, demand, or suggest patience, depending on the contexts in which these phrases are used.
Some more formal synonyms for the phrase “hold your hair” include “don’t rush,” “be calm,” and “be patient.” Also, there are many other English idioms that use the concept of “holding something” to refer to the idea of patience. Many of these are related to the dress. For example, a native English speaker might also tell someone to “hold your shirt,” which has the same meaning.
There are also variations of these idioms. For example, some English speakers might also tell someone else to “keep your pants on.” Other similar idioms with the same meaning include “hold your horses,” which creates a physical metaphor for the driver of a team of horses. A shorter idiom with the same meaning is the phrasal verb “hold on”, which is also commonly used.
Another idiom that refers to the concept of hair is “keep the wig”. This is another phrase that means “be patient” or “don’t get angry.” Some newer English slang also uses the word “wig” in the same general context. In modern English, speakers might say “don’t flip the wig.” Additionally, another phrasal verb, “wig out” was created to refer to the process of becoming angry or impatient. English speakers might ask each other not to get distracted, or describe each other as “loathsome” when they get overly angry or excited. Other synonymous phrasal verbs include “flip out” and “freak out.”
In general, many of these phrases are only used in informal situations. Many of these, including “hold your hair,” can sound slightly offensive if used the wrong way. Those who are in a quiet position as equals can usually use these phrases in communication with each other, but, for example, a subordinate wouldn’t usually say something like “hold your hair” to a boss. A salesperson would also avoid using these kinds of phrases for customers. These phrases often require an element of humor to be used effectively.
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