Meaning
To suddenly become very angry or lose one's temper.
Cultural Background
The phrase is deeply linked to the 'Paykan' car, which was the national car for decades. Its radiator was notorious for boiling over in summer, making this idiom part of the collective Iranian memory. In the high-stress, high-traffic environment of Tehran, 'joosh āvardan' is a daily occurrence. It's often used as a way to bond over shared frustrations with the city's infrastructure. While 'joosh āvardan' is modern slang, the concept of 'boiling' (jooshesh) has been used for centuries in Sufi poetry to describe the 'boiling of the heart' with divine love. The slang version is a secular, modern 'downgrade' of this intense emotion. Parents often use this to warn children: 'نذار جوش بیارم!' (Don't make me lose my temper!). It's a final warning before a disciplinary action.
Use with 'Hesabi'
Add 'hesabi' (thoroughly) to emphasize the anger: 'Hesabi joosh āvard' (He really, really lost it).
Don't use with Elders
Even though it's common, using slang like this to describe an elder's anger can be seen as slightly disrespectful. Use 'asabāni shodan' instead.
Meaning
To suddenly become very angry or lose one's temper.
Use with 'Hesabi'
Add 'hesabi' (thoroughly) to emphasize the anger: 'Hesabi joosh āvard' (He really, really lost it).
Don't use with Elders
Even though it's common, using slang like this to describe an elder's anger can be seen as slightly disrespectful. Use 'asabāni shodan' instead.
The 'Amper' Connection
If you want to sound like a native, use 'Amperam zad bala' (My gauge hit the top) as a synonym for 'joosh āvardam'.
The 'Cool Down' period
After someone 'joosh mi-ārad', Iranians often say 'Ab beriz roo ātesh' (Pour water on the fire) to calm them down.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'joosh āvardan'.
وقتی فهمیدم ماشینم رو دزدیدن، از عصبانیت ________.
The subject is 'I' (understood from 'fahmidam' and 'māshinam'), so the verb must be 1st person singular past tense.
Which sentence uses the phrase literally?
کدام جمله معنی واقعی (غیر کنایهای) دارد؟
This refers to the actual overheating of a car engine, which is the literal meaning.
Match the situation to the most likely reaction.
Match the following:
Heavy traffic and heat are the primary causes for a car to literally boil over.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural slang response.
شخص الف: شنیدی رئیس چقدر سر مریم داد زد؟ شخص ب: آره، طفلی مریم هم داشت ________.
'Joosh mi-āvard' describes Maryam's state of nearly losing her temper in response.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesوقتی فهمیدم ماشینم رو دزدیدن، از عصبانیت ________.
The subject is 'I' (understood from 'fahmidam' and 'māshinam'), so the verb must be 1st person singular past tense.
کدام جمله معنی واقعی (غیر کنایهای) دارد؟
This refers to the actual overheating of a car engine, which is the literal meaning.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Heavy traffic and heat are the primary causes for a car to literally boil over.
شخص الف: شنیدی رئیس چقدر سر مریم داد زد؟ شخص ب: آره، طفلی مریم هم داشت ________.
'Joosh mi-āvard' describes Maryam's state of nearly losing her temper in response.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt's not profanity, but it is very informal. It's like saying 'he blew a fuse' in English. Use it with friends, not your professor.
Yes! That is the literal meaning. 'Ketri joosh āmad' (The kettle came to a boil). Note that for water, we often use 'āmadan' (to come) instead of 'āvardan' (to bring).
'Asabāni shodan' is the general word for getting angry. 'Joosh āvardan' is more specific to a sudden, intense outburst.
In the Tehran dialect (which is the basis for spoken Persian), the 'ā' sound often changes to 'oo' or 'o' before 'n' or 'm'.
No. In a job interview, if you need to talk about stress, use 'taht-e feshar' (under pressure) or 'asabāniyat' (anger).
Not really. 'Joosh' is almost always associated with heat, pressure, and negative outbursts in this context.
Mostly, yes. But 'ghāti kardan' can also mean getting confused or 'losing one's mind' temporarily.
You can say: 'Dāri bāes mishi joosh biāram' (You are causing me to boil over).
The opposite would be 'khonsard boodan' (to be cold-blooded/calm) or 'ārām shodan' (to become calm).
Yes, if the computer is physically overheating, you can say 'laptopam joosh āvord'.
Related Phrases
از کوره در رفتن
synonymTo fly out of the furnace.
آمپر چسباندن
specialized formTo have the temperature needle stick.
خون کسی به جوش آمدن
similarOne's blood coming to a boil.
قاطی کردن
synonymTo mix up / To snap.
