cross as a bear

Idioms  

1. Grumpy, ill-humored, annoyed, as in Stay away from Claire; she's cross as a bear this morning. Unlike the earlier cross as two stocks, this survives even though the adjective cross for “ill-tempered” is otherwise not used much in America. It is sometimes amplified as cross as a bear with a sore head. [Early 1700s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cross as a bear

"I hope it won't," answered the young lady; "the chances are you would be as cross as a bear before two days had gone past, and would want to go off in a small boat."

From In a Steamer Chair and Other Stories by Robert Barr

But Lady Grace Fenton was as cross as a bear because she wanted to go and shoot too.

From The Visits of Elizabeth by Elinor Glyn

"To make me cross as a bear, and give mother something to worry about, as much as anything, I suppose."

From Half a Dozen Girls by Anna Chapin Ray

The little mother is as cross as a bear; but, as she cannot be so always, we are looking out for a change of weather.

From Yr Ynys Unyg The Lonely Island by Julia de Winton

"She is as cross as a bear, and cross people are generally sick people—although I suppose that's Mary's temperament," he added sighing.

From The Awakening of Helena Richie by Margaret Wade Campbell Deland

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