hit the ceiling

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

Idioms and Phrases

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.”

Example Sentences

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

From Salon

The small fermenting tanks from my last visit had been replaced by much larger ones that she was planning to return because their tops wouldn’t open without hitting the ceiling.

From Los Angeles Times

Passengers who were on board a Dublin-bound flight which experienced severe turbulence have described seeing people 'hit the ceiling' when the aircraft dropped very suddenly.

From BBC

“Within an instant, they hit the ceiling of the cabin and dropped right back onto the floor.”

From New York Times

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Jokat revealed that people had hit the ceiling with such force "some of the roof panels were broken".

From BBC