have a cob on

verb

To be in a bad mood; be grumpy.

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Meanings

verbhave a cob on (third-person singular simple present has a cob on, present participle having a cob on, simple past and past participle had a cob on)

present singular third person has a cob on · participle present having a cob on · participle past had a cob on · past had a cob on · alternative have got a cob on · alternative get a cob on

  1. Northern EnglandLiverpoolTo be in a bad mood; be grumpy.

Origin

Unknown. Perhaps from cob (“male swan”), noted for its ill-temper. Compare have a corncob up one's arse (“to be ill-tempered”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

have a cob on. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20a%20cob%20on

MLA

“have a cob on.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20a%20cob%20on. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “have a cob on,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20a%20cob%20on.

Source: have a cob on on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.