like a bear with a sore head Definition

bear²
noun bears, bear

1. Any of various large carnivorous animals with a heavily built body covered with thick fur, short powerful limbs, small eyes and ears, strong claws and a short tail. Also in compounds;

Example: brown bear
Example: polar bear
2. A rough ill-mannered person.
3. A teddy bear.
4. stock exchange.
Someone who sells shares, hoping to buy them back later at a much lower price. Compare lame duck 4, bull¹ noun 4.

verb beared, bearing

1. To act as a bear (sense 4 above).
2. To lower the price of (a stock) or to depress (a market) by selling speculatively.

Derivative: bearish

Said of a person: like a bear in behaviour and manners; bad-tempered and rough.

Causing or linked with a fall in prices.

Idiom: like a bear with a sore head

colloq
Said of a person: exceptionally touchy and bad-tempered.

Derivative: the Great Bear

See separate entries.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon bera.