bile

/baɪl/

/baɪl/

Other forms: biles

In medicine, bile is a fluid secreted by the liver and used to help breakdown fats. Because it used to be associated with anger, feeling your bile rise is the same as feeling mounting anger.

How did bile get linked to anger? Pre-modern doctors believed there were four basic substances to the human body, called humours, one of which was yellow bile that controlled anger. It doesn't, but when you feel angry, you'll still hear that you have to swallow your bile.

Definitions of bile

1. noun

   a digestive juice secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder; aids in the digestion of fats
   synonyms: gall

   type of:

   digestive fluid, digestive juice

   secretions that aid digestion
2. noun

   anger; irritability
   synonyms: anger, choler, ire

   types:

   fury, madness, rage

   a feeling of intense anger

   enragement, infuriation

   a feeling of intense anger

   offence, offense, umbrage

   a feeling of anger caused by being offended

   indignation, outrage

   a feeling of righteous anger

   huffiness

   a passing state of anger and resentment

   dander, hackles

   a feeling of anger and animosity

   bad temper, ill temper

   a persisting angry mood

   annoyance, chafe, vexation

   anger produced by some annoying irritation

   dudgeon, high dudgeon

   a feeling of intense indignation (usually used in the phrase 'in high dudgeon')

   wrath

   intense anger (usually on an epic scale)

   lividity

   a state of fury so great the face becomes discolored

   irritation, pique, temper

   a sudden outburst of anger

   frustration

   a feeling of annoyance at being hindered or criticized

   aggravation, exasperation

   an exasperated feeling of annoyance

   harassment, torment

   a feeling of intense annoyance caused by being tormented

   displeasure

   the feeling of being displeased or annoyed or dissatisfied with someone or something

   irascibility, quick temper, short temper, spleen

   a feeling of resentful anger

   conniption, fit, scene, tantrum

   a display of bad temper

   type of:

   emotion

   any strong feeling