Fly off the handle
Meaning
To suddenly and explosively lose one's temper, often without warning.
Origin
This vivid idiom emerged in the 19th century, painting a picture of a tool—like an axe or a hammer—so poorly made or misused that its head detaches from the handle, flying wildly and unpredictably. Just as a heavy axe head spinning out of control poses a sudden and dangerous threat, a person who "flies off the handle" loses all control, erupting in a sudden fit of rage, often with similarly unpredictable and damaging consequences. The image perfectly captures the explosive and uncontrolled nature of an unexpected outburst.
Examples
- When the manager heard about the missed deadline, he completely flew off the handle, yelling at everyone in the room.
- It's best not to mention his ex-girlfriend; he tends to fly off the handle whenever her name comes up.