To raise (one's) voice

Idiom: to raise (one's) voice

 

Context #1:

 

Wife:  "Why are you coming home so late from work?  You said you would be home at 8!"

Husband (in a loud angry voice): "I hit traffic!  Ok?  Just calm down."

Wife: "You don't have to raise your voice.  I'm just asking because I was getting worried about you."

Husband:  "I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to yell at you.  I just had a really stressful day at work."  

 

Context #2:

 

Sara:  My mom is so nice to me.  I really appreciate her a lot.

Kathy:  I know!  Your mom is such a sweetheart.  You're very lucky.

Sara:  Even whe she gets mad or upset, she never raises her voice at me.

 

Meaning:  to raise one's voice means to talk in a loud manner, usually due to anger or frustration.  When people get into a fight or an argument, very often someone will raise their voice.  This expression can be found in the LSI textbook titled "Reading Savvy."  This book is used to teach level 5 Reading/Vocabulary classes.  For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com