bursting point

the point at which normal capacity is exceeded.

a stage of emotion at which self-control is lost.

Origin of bursting point

First recorded in 1900–05

His fury was at bursting-point, and Beasley reveled in the devil now looking out of his angry eyes.

The Golden Woman |Ridgwell Cullum
Wine-skins stretch, but only within measure; for there comes at last a bursting-point when new ones must be provided.'

Outspoken Essays |William Ralph Inge
The colonel very likely would have puffed up with military consequence almost to the bursting-point.

The Rustler of Wind River |G. W. Ogden
The train was the centre of an excited crowd, the carriage full almost to bursting-point.

Poor Folk in Spain |Jan Gordon

Then the vast energies of the "south" would rise to bursting-point and a "through blizzard" would be the result.

The Home of the Blizzard |Douglas Mawson