make someone's hair curl

make (one's) hair curl

To cause one to experience an acute feeling of shame, embarrassment, or discomfort. Her story about the disastrous wedding made everyone's hair curl. The thought of having to give her presentation in front of an audience made her hair curl.

See also: curl, hair, make

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

make someone's hair curl

shock or horrify someone. informal

This expression may have developed in the mid 20th century as a dramatic or humorous variation of make someone's hair stand on end (see hair).

See also: curl, hair, make

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017