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Region: General | Usage example: He apologized, saying it was said in the heat of the moment.

Heat of the moment

Meaning

Acting during a surge of strong emotion.

Usage

Used to excuse impulsive behavior.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Hot-blooded emotional imagery.

Used in apologies and storytelling for decades.