proverb · Words worth keeping
A hungry man, an angry man.
A hungry man, an angry man.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A person with an unmet immediate need may be irritable. The rhyme links hunger with anger as an observation about a possible circumstance.
What the words are saying
The saying notices a moment in which discomfort and mood go together. Someone who appears impatient may need a break or attention to an ordinary need rather than a lecture about their temperament. Its general wording should be read modestly: people respond differently, and anger can have many causes. It can encourage a pause before judging a reaction, while leaving the person responsible for how they treat others. The phrase is a familiar observation, not a diagnosis or an excuse for aggression.
Everyday example
During a demanding outing, a group takes a break before continuing a tense conversation.
When to use it
Use it to suggest considering immediate circumstances before judging a mood.
What it does not mean
Hunger does not explain every angry response or excuse mistreatment.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 827 · Hungry man
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English