vérszemet kap

Hungarian

Etymology

From vér (“blood”) +‎ szem (“eye”) +‎ -et (accusative suffix) +‎ kap (“to get”), literally “to get blood eye”. The compound word vérszem (meaning véres (“bloody”) +‎ szem (“eye”)) is used only in this phrase. It indicates that a sudden emotional impulse often causes redness in the eyes.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈveːrsɛmɛtkɒp]

Verb

vérszemet kap

1. (idiomatic) to become emboldened in an insolent way (to become demanding and audacious encouraged by an unexpected situation, favorable opportunity, or undeserved success)

   Synonyms: elszemtelenedik, követelő(ző)vé válik

Conjugation

• For the verb, see kap.
• The inflected noun vérszemet remains unchanged.

Further reading

• vérszemet kap in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (“The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language”, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN