fly off the handle

1. To become suddenly enraged: “When Jack's father found out about the car, he really flew off the handle.”

Idioms and Phrases

Lose one's temper, as in Tom flies off the handle at the slightest setback . This metaphoric expression alludes to the loosened head of a hammer flying off after a blow. [Early 1800s]

Related Words

• blow up
• boil over
• erupt
• rampage
• roar
• seethe
• tear