"hacked off"

Posted by Gary Martin on June 25, 2006

In Reply to: "Hacked off" posted by tiger on June 25, 2006

: Does anyone know the origin of the phrase "hacked off" in the sense of being annoyed about some event. I have an opinion based on the equestrian pastime of hacking or riding out across countryside as a leisure activity. In this there is a common acceptance that one or more riders should slow down to a walk when passing another rider or group of riders. It is considered rude to ride quickly past rather than slowing down. The phrase however is not apparently used in this way by the riders I've spoken to - many of them having more than 40 years experience of different forms of riding (showjumping, dressage, racing etc).

Hack just means annoy.