Idiom Breakdown

use in anger

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Definition

Used for its intended purpose, as opposed to e.g. practice or testing

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Origins

By extension, from fire in anger.

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In Context

"The key element that has yet to be used in anger is the payment calculation function of the operating system."
"Just having a play before I use in anger"
"Outside of testing when first built I doubt those protections have ever actually been used in anger!"