Idiom for an inclination to fight.

[Coimbra1970]

I am having a hard time finding a common idiom for an inclination to fight. Any ideas?

 

[GoesStation]

Re: Idioms

Several words mean "inclined to fight": bellicose, belligerent, combative, confrontational, ​etc. One idiom that comes to mind is hot-headed. There must be dozens but the only other one I can think of right now is Trump.

 

[kilroy65]

Re: Idioms

I can only think of "barroom brawler" but I'm not really sure if it's used nowadays.

 

[SoothingDave]

Re: Idioms

Ornery

 

[Skrej]

Re: Idioms

Here are some I've heard and/or use. Many of them are kind of rural or folksy.

"itching for a fight/argument/brawl"
"meaner than a junkyard dog" (see here for a list of similar expressions, not all of which refer to fighting)
"spoiling for a fight"
"set to boil"
"he'll fight at the drop of a hat (and drop the hat himself)"
"gunning for a fight"
"willing to fight a circle saw (while it's running)"
"madder than a wet hen"
"goes around half-cocked"

 

[Tarheel]

Re: Idioms

Don't forget:

He has a chip on his shoulder.