hit the ceiling

Cultural  

1. To become extremely angry: “When Corey found out someone had stolen his CD player, he really hit the ceiling.”

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hit the ceiling Idioms  

1. Also, hit the roof. Explode in anger, as in Jane hit the ceiling when she saw her grades, or Dad hit the roof when he didn't get his usual bonus. The first expression dates from the early 1900s; the second is a version of a 16th-century locution, up in the house roof or house-top, meaning “enraged.”

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Example Sentences

"There are benefits to a strike day, but they are ultimately limited before you hit the ceiling of other pressures from outside the trust," said one senior hospital manager.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Miller reportedly hit the ceiling, furious that arrests aren't widespread and indiscriminate.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2025

“He’s hit the ceiling at a couple of spots at the low part of the dome here trying to kick field goals,” Idaho State special teams coordinator Jesse Thompson said in a phone interview.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 29, 2023

“Several people” hit the ceiling of the plane, he added, including a woman in his row.

From New York Times • Jul. 13, 2023

If Ma had any eyebrows, they would have hit the ceiling.

From "Dragons in a Bag" by Zetta Elliott