slow burn

slow burn (plural slow burns)

1. (idiomatic) A gradually increasing feeling of anger or frustration.
   • 1957 July 1, "Scoreboard," Time:

     In the ninth inning of a game with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Johnny Temple, Cincinnati Redleg second baseman, let a hot grounder sizzle through his legs, looked up to see the Scoreboard flash "error" and began a slow burn.

   • 2008 July 25, Ty Burr, "‘Step Brothers’ is crude, rude—and funny (film review)," Boston Globe (retrieved 8 Apr. 2009):

     The comedy comes from the patient slow burn of the parents as they try to ignore the explosive belligerence of the boys.

• hot temper, outburst

• do a slow burn

• slow burn at OneLook Dictionary Search