Meaning
Grumpy or cross, out of sorts.
Origin
From 19th-century Britain, tied to bears; sore heads meant mad, slang by 1850s in a Dickens tale for grump. A 1860s 'Punch' uses it for a sour chap.
Variants
- Bear sore head
- Like bear sore
Usage Examples
- He's like a bear with a sore head; stay clear.
- Like a bear with a sore head; she's mad.
- Bear with a sore head; don't ask.