As cross as two sticks and Ill-tempered

Ill-tempered and as cross as two sticks are semantically related In some cases you can use "Ill-tempered" instead an adjective phrase "As cross as two sticks".

Ill-tempered adjective - Having or showing a habitually bad temper.

As cross as two sticks and ill-tempered are semantically related in in a mood topic. Sometimes you can use "As cross as two sticks" instead an adjective phrase "Ill-tempered".