burn with a low blue flame
1. Lit. [of a properly adjusted gas burner] to burn and put off heat. Each burner on the stove burns with a low blue flame giving the maximum amount of heat per BTU.
2. Fig. to be quietly and intensely angry. She just sat there with her steak in her lap, burning with a low blue flame. She was quiet, but everyone knew she would soon burn with a low blue flame.
3. Fig. to be heavily intoxicated with alcohol. (Alludes to the irritability of a person who is very drunk.) Yeah, he's burning with a low blue flame. He's not just drunk, he's burning with a low blue flame.