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Synonyms

fly off the handle

Cultural  

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

fly off the handle Idioms  

  1. 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]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I fly off the handle and scream. The next day I can’t remember what made me mad.”

From New York Times • Nov. 12, 2021

This digital monster that has taught the culture how to overreact and fly off the handle needs to be tamed.

From Washington Post • Oct. 5, 2021

That doesn’t mean I don’t fly off the handle at times.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2021

It's difficult to be a director and fly off the handle.

From Salon • Mar. 9, 2021

“No problem,” said Robert warily, “though I’d appreciate it if you didn’t fly off the handle over every detail.”

From "The Number Devil" by Hans Magnus Enzensberger

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.