The heat of the moment.
[Idiom] THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT. - Discover How Emotions Influence Our Decisions!
Acting impulsively under emotional stress.
The heat of the moment" is a phrase used to describe a situation where someone makes decisions or says something impulsively under intense emotional pressure or stress. It captures a common human experience—reacting in a spontaneous or uncharacteristic way because emotions are heightened, like in a heated argument or an urgent crisis. This idiom offers a vivid picture of how our cool, rational thinking can temporarily 'melt away' when things get too intense.
Example Sentences
In the heat of the moment, he said something he regretted.
It means he said something he later regretted during a heated moment.
She quit her job in the heat of the moment.
It indicates she left her job impulsively and emotionally.
During the argument, in the heat of the moment, she blurted out a secret.
It suggests she revealed a secret while arguing in a highly emotional state.