Fine-tooth comb

[0930] Fly off the handle

🎲 Get wind of
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • To suddenly lose one's temper and become very angry, often unexpectedly or disproportionately to the situation.

Origin

  • This idiom dates back to the mid-19th century in America.
  • It likely compares the sudden burst of anger to the head of an axe or hammer accidentally flying off its handle when swung.
  • This suggests a dangerous loss of control and unpredictability.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Lose one's temper.
  • Blow up.
  • Flip out. (Informal)
  • Lose it. (Informal)
  • Hit the roof / ceiling. (Become very angry)
  • Go ballistic. (Become extremely angry, often uncontrollably)
  • See red. (Become extremely angry)
  • Have a short fuse. (Get angry easily)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Go spare. (UK/Aus Get very angry)
  • Wig out. (Lose control, get very excited or angry)
  • Flip your lid. (Lose your temper)
  • Blow a gasket. (Lose your temper, like an overheating engine)
  • Snap. (Suddenly lose patience or control)

Vulgar/Emphatic (Describing intense, uncontrolled anger):

  • Lose your shit.
  • Go apeshit.
  • Flip the fuck out.
  • Go batshit crazy. (Implying irrational anger)

Milder/Standard:

  • Become enraged.
  • Get very upset.
  • Lose control.
  • React angrily.

Situational Appropriateness

  • Informal to semi-formal.
  • Appropriate for describing someone's sudden anger in everyday conversation.
  • Might sound a bit too informal or colloquial for a very formal report or discussion, where lost his/her temper or became very angry might be preferred.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • Explain the axe/hammer head metaphor. Ensure learners understand it means sudden anger, not literal flying.

Examples

  • He tends to fly off the handle over minor mistakes.
  • I know you're upset, but there's no need to fly off the handle.
  • She completely flew off the handle when she saw the mess.

Dialogue

Employee 1: Did you hear the boss yelling earlier?

Employee 2: Yeah, I heard him fly off the handle at Mark about the report deadline. It was pretty intense.

Employee 1: Seriously? Mark's usually so reliable. The boss needs to chill out sometimes.

Social Media Examples

  • Venting Post: Just had a customer fly off the handle at me because their coupon expired yesterday. Some people! 🙄 #RetailLife #CustomerService
  • Advice Forum: My partner tends to fly off the handle during arguments. How can we communicate better when emotions run high? #relationships #anger

Response Patterns

  • Whoa, really? What happened?
  • Yeah, he has a short fuse.
  • Try to stay calm. / Take a deep breath.
  • That's not helpful. (Disapproving of the anger)
  • Expressing surprise or concern about the person's temper.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After someone flew off the handle:

  • People often ask about the cause: What set them off?
  • Discussion might focus on the consequences of the outburst or how to calm the person down.

When warning someone not to fly off the handle:

  • The conversation usually involves trying to de-escalate the situation or address the underlying issue calmly.

Conversation Starter

  • No.
  • Describes a reaction (sudden anger) within a situation or narrative.

Intonation

  • Often stated with concern, warning, or disapproval.
  • Can be stated with surprise when describing an event.
  • Emphasis on FLY OFF the HANDLE.

Generation Differences

  • Widely understood and used across generations.

Regional Variations

  • Common in all major English-speaking regions, particularly North America.
Fine-tooth comb
🎲 Get wind of