Prendre la mouche

Literal Translation

To take the fly

Actual Meaning

To be angry very suddenly

Etymology

Here, the verb ‘prendre’ translates as ‘to feel the effect of’, as in ‘prendre ombrage’ (to take offence). ‘Prendre la mouche’ existed in the 14th century in the form ‘prendre mouskes’. But “mouche”, figuratively, also referred to a worry, a sudden thought. The expression ‘prendre la mouche’ means to have a sudden angry reaction.