To fly off the handle
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When you say that someone “flies off the handle” you mean that they lose their temper – perhaps suddenly and unexpectedly.
Examples:
- He flew off the handle when I told him I had lost my keys.
- He has a really bad temper; he’s always flying off the handle.
Other idioms with a similar meaning include:
- To lose one’s rag
- To lose it
- To throw a wobbly
Examples:
- Stay calm; try not to lose your rag with her.
- She’s normally quite calm but this time she just lost it.
- The mother wanted her son to eat his dinner, but he threw a wobbly.
