Idiom: to tear one's hair out

[Haihao]

English Idioms and Expressions, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #12 "Splitting Hairs", question 9

I was really scared when I saw him because he was tearing his hair out about the new management decision.

(a) extremely excited
(b) extremely worried
(c) extremely angry
(d) extremely depressed

English Idioms and Expressions, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #12 "Splitting Hairs", answer 9

I was really scared when I saw him because he was extremely angry about the new management decision.

Correct answer: (c) extremely angry

Your answer was: correct
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I thought b) was a very good answer too in considering the idiom's original meaning. Why c) is the best?

[Alan]

Hi,

Obviously this is an idiom and cannot be taken literally but the picture of someone doing this or at least attempting to do it usually suggests that they are very angry, have lost control and are acting in a furious way.

A
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English as a Second Language
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