Brewer's: Suds

(Mrs.). A facetious name for a washwoman or laundress. Of course, the allusion is to soap-suds.

To be in the suds
in ill-temper. According to the song, “Neer a bit of comfort is upon a washing day,” all are put out of gear, and therefore out of temper.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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