The phrase "be livid" is spelled with the letters B-E, followed by the word "livid" which is spelled with the letters L-I-V-I-D. The IPA phonetic transcription for "livid" is /ˈlɪvɪd/, with the stress on the first syllable. The "v" sound is pronounced as a voiced labiodental fricative (/v/) and the "i" sound is pronounced as a short vowel sound (/ɪ/). "Livid" means extremely angry or furious, and the phrase "be livid" is an imperative sentence telling someone to feel that intense anger.
The phrase "be livid" refers to a state of extreme anger, frustration, or outrage that is often visibly and intensely expressed. When someone is said to be livid, it suggests that they are fuming with anger, seething with rage, or boiling with fury over a particular situation, action, or event. This emotional state typically manifests through heightened aggression, intense agitation, or visible signs of anger such as shouting, glaring, or extreme irritability.
The term "livid" originates from the Latin word "lividus," meaning "bluish-black." It alludes to the visual appearance of someone's skin during extreme anger or rage, where one's face may turn red or pale, creating a striking contrast that resembles a bruise or a darkened complexion. To be livid implies that a person's emotions are so overpowering that they have reached a boiling point.
Being livid can arise from a variety of situations, such as being lied to, experiencing betrayal, or feeling deeply disrespected. It can also result from a sense of helplessness or frustration when one's expectations or desires are ignored or undermined. As a descriptive term, being livid signifies an emotional state that is both highly intense and visibly evident, often leaving those witnessing it in no doubt as to the intensity of the person's anger.
The term "be livid" originates from the Latin word "lividus", which means "bluish or black and blue". In its literal sense, "livid" refers to the discoloration of the skin that occurs due to bruising. Over time, the figurative meaning of the term developed to describe a person's intense anger, similar to the color change associated with bruising.