keep/lose your temper

keep (one's) temper

To refrain from becoming angered, enraged, or upset due to some provocation; to maintain control of one's composure despite being angry or upset. You're a good driver, but you need to do a better job of keeping your temper when other drivers make mistakes. It's hard to keep my temper with the kids after being kept awake by them all night long.See also: keep, temper

lose (one's) temper

To become angered, enraged, or upset due to some provocation; to have an outburst upon losing one's patience. I'm usually a pretty calm person, but whenever I start driving, I find I lose my temper at the slightest inconvenience. When we were kids, my dad lost his temper a lot, but he's mellowed out since then.See also: lose, temper

keep/lose your ˈtemper (with somebody)

manage/fail to control your anger: You must learn to keep your temper. ♢ He loses his temper very quickly if you argue with him.See also: keep, lose, temper