The verb "encabritarse" primarily refers to the action of a horse raising its front legs and becoming agitated or wild. In a metaphorical context, it can also mean to become very angry or to act in a way that reflects rage or upset.
In the Spanish language, it is often used in both oral and written contexts, although it might be more frequently encountered in spoken language when describing sudden emotions or reactions. The word is commonly understood and used in various Spanish-speaking countries.
El caballo se encabritó cuando escuchó el trueno.
The horse bucked when it heard the thunder.
No te encabrites, solo es una pequeña discusión.
Don't get furious, it's just a small argument.
Durante la reunión, él se encabritó al escuchar la crítica a su trabajo.
During the meeting, he became furious upon hearing criticism of his work.
While "encabritarse" does not form a significant number of idiomatic expressions on its own, it can be incorporated into phrases that convey feelings of indignation or fury. Here are some examples:
No te encabrites por cosas que no valen la pena.
Don't get worked up about things that are not worth it.
Ella se encabritó de inmediato cuando escuchó el rumor.
She became furious immediately when she heard the rumor.
Es fácil encabritarse con tanta presión en el trabajo.
It’s easy to get angry with so much pressure at work.
A veces es mejor calmarse en lugar de encabritarse.
Sometimes it's better to calm down instead of getting angry.
The term "encabritarse" comes from the Spanish word "cabrito," which means "young goat" or can refer to the behavior of a bucking animal, particularly a horse. The prefix "en-" indicates a transformation or process, hence it conveys the sense of becoming bucked or agitated.
Synonyms - Enfurecerse (to get angry) - Alterarse (to get upset) - Irritarse (to get irritated)
Antonyms - Calmarse (to calm down) - Serenarse (to become serene) - Tranquilizarse (to soothe oneself)