Etymology Journal · H
Hotter than a two-dollar pistol
Meaning
- A descriptive way to say something is very intense, usually referring to anger, speed, or actual temperature. It implies something is so hot that it might be dangerous.
Colorful, descriptive
Used in a sentence
- He came into the meeting hotter than a two-dollar pistol because the report wasn't ready.
- It is hotter than a two-dollar pistol on this construction site today.
- The kitchen was hotter than a two-dollar pistol while they were prepping for the banquet.
The backstory
This is a classic American idiom from the early 20th century. A cheap, two-dollar pistol would heat up rapidly and be unreliable, serving as a perfect metaphor for high-strung situations or sweltering weather.
Heard in
The South
Vibe check