カッとくる

also: かっとくる

Meanings

1

expression, kuru verb (irregular)

usually written using kana alone

Describes a sudden, intense flash of anger, often in response to a specific trigger. The カッと part is mimetic for a burst of heat or emotion.

Written forms

カッと来くる
Common katakana-kanji mixed spelling; the katakana part reflects the mimetic/emphatic nature.
かっと来くる
Hiragana-kanji mixed spelling; less common but still used.
かっとくる
Fully hiragana spelling; also common and matches the usually-kana indication.

Kanji

来come, due, next

Similar words

ムカッと来くる
Also expresses sudden anger, but ムカッと emphasizes a feeling of disgust or irritation welling up, while カッと focuses on an explosive, heat-of-the-moment rage.
腹はらが立たつ
A more general and common expression for 'get angry'; カッと来る is more intense and instantaneous.

Etymology

The phrase combines the mimetic adverb カッと (representing a sudden burst of heat or emotion) with the verb 来る (to come), literally 'a flash of anger comes'. The exact origin of カッと is uncertain, but it belongs to a family of sound-symbolic words expressing sudden changes.