use in anger
Used for its intended purpose, as opposed to e.g. practice or testing
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He finally used his new camera in anger during the wedding.”
“The team spent months testing the software, but they only saw how it performed when they used it in anger during the live launch.”
“Although the prototype had performed flawlessly in the laboratory, the engineers remained anxious until the system was finally used in anger under actual combat conditions.”
Derived by extension from the military phrase fire in anger, which distinguishes the discharge of a weapon in combat from its use in practice or ceremonial salutes.
- 01
ain't what it used to was
Is not what it used to be; (expressing nostalgia).
- 02
get used
To become accustomed to something; to acclimate; to adjust.
- 03
use a sledgehammer to crack a nut
To use disproportionate or significantly excessive force to carry out an action; to do something overzealously.
- 04
use one's head
To think carefully, especially as an alternative to being guided by one's emotions.
- 05
use one's noggin
To think, especially in a careful or clever manner.
- 06
used to
Two everyday senses. As a past marker (used to + verb): something that happened regularly, or was true, in the past but isn't now — "We used to live by the sea." After be or get (be/get used to + noun or -ing): accustomed to, or comfortable with, something — "I'm used to the noise now."
Last updated August 10, 2026