indiscriminately; recklessly; taking it out on anyone
Describes lashing out or venting anger on whoever is nearby, without regard for who is at fault. Often used in the phrase 八つ当たりをする.
When he's in a bad mood, he takes it out on the people around him.
Please stop yelling at people indiscriminately.
Mixed kana-kanji variant; less common but still encountered.
From 八つ (many, various) + 当たり (hitting, striking), literally 'hitting in all directions'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it conveys the idea of striking out indiscriminately.