English

Verb

keep one's hair on

1. (idiomatic, Britain, colloquial) To stay calm; to be patient.

   All right, all right, just keep your hair on, mate.

   • 1901, Louis Couperus, Alexander Teixeira de Mattos (translator), Small Souls,

     “Oh, nothing, nothing!”

     “Yes, there’s something. I mean to know!”

     “Keep your hair on; it’s nothing.”

     “Out with it!” cried Addie, scarlet with rage.

     And he flew at Jaap’s throat.

Synonyms

• (to be patient): keep one's shirt on

Antonyms

• (to stay calm): get one's bowels in an uproar, get one's knickers in a knot