froth at the mouth

present singular third person froths at the mouth · participle present frothing at the mouth · participle past frothed at the mouth · past frothed at the mouth

1. literallyTo spew saliva as froth.

   He was so excited, he was almost frothing at the mouth.

   1966, Bruce Brown, director, The Endless Summer

   3 more examples

   What I suffered with that rein for four long months in my lady's carriage, it would be hard to describe, but I am quite sure that, had it lasted much longer, either my health or my temper would have given way. Before that, I never knew what it was to foam at the mouth, but now the action of the sharp bit on my tongue and jaw, and the constrained position of my head and throat, always caused me to froth at the mouth more or less.

   [1877], Anna Sewell, “A Strike for Liberty”, in Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […], →OCLC, part II, page 109

   Police said that he bought a 54-gallon drum of poisonous methyl alcohol, often used for hot-rod fuel, and mixed it with well water, peach flavoring, regular moonshine and a "beading oil" calculated to make it foam when shaken. Seventy-seven gallons were delivered. Within hours Atlanta's Grady Negro Clinic began to fill with men and women who panted, frothed at the mouth and writhed in horrible convulsions.

   1951 November 5, “Manners & Morals: Americana”, in Time, archived from the original on 23 Nov 2010

   The symptoms of acute nitrate poisoning are quite characteristic provided the affected animals are not disturbed. In the early stages the animal stops eating, froths at the mouth and has abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

   1963 August 15, “[Trends and Discoveries:] Nitrate Poisoning in Ruminants”, in New Scientist, volume 19, number 352, London: New Science Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 348, column 3

   Synonyms: foam at the mouth, froth at the gash

2. figurativelyTo rage, to vent one's anger.

   She was almost frothing at the mouth when she heard about the cost of the car repairs.

   1 more example

   'Damn the Whitecoats!' cried Snitter, frothing at the mouth. 'Damn Annie, damn the policeman and the white bell-car! Damn you all, damn you! You've killed my master!'

   1977, Richard Adams, “Friday the 15th October”, in The Plague Dogs, London: Allen Lane, →ISBN; republished Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books in association with Rex Collings Ltd and Allen Lane, 1978, →ISBN, page 42