As cross as two sticks and Short-tempered

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

Short-tempered adjective - Easily irritated or annoyed.

As cross as two sticks and short-tempered are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "As cross as two sticks" instead an adjective phrase "Short-tempered".