Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to flip one's lid

to flip one's lid

9.1
To become suddenly very angry and lose control
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : perder los estribos
  • But there's a gal who's chasing me who really flipped her lid -

Examples

Synonyms

to lose it
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
289 7.5

Suddenly stop controlling your feelings and become very angry or upset

is similar but usually phrased in a less crude way
to explode
vsto flip one's lid
187 3.5

To suddenly show a strong feeling, often anger

is similar but often focuses on anger rather than any emotion
to flip
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
143 7.5

To suddenly become very angry, excited, or surprised

is narrower, mainly highlighting sudden angry loss of control
to flip out
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
49 7.2

To suddenly lose control and become very angry or upset

is the same idea but often sounds less intense
to go ballistic
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
22 7.5

Suddenly become very angry

is similar but usually feels less formally intense
to blow up
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
16 4.7

To suddenly become very angry and lose control

is similar but often used in more colloquial speech
to have a fit
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
16 5.3

To suddenly become very angry or upset and show it strongly

is similar but often used in lighter, informal talk
to throw a fit
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
12 6.1

To suddenly become very angry or upset in a loud, obvious way

is similar but usually sounds less theatrical
to fly off the handle
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
11 6.8

To suddenly become very angry

is comparable but can sound more humorous or light
to fly off
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
7 5.3

To suddenly get very angry without warning

is similar but commonly phrased in a lighter, idiomatic way
to boil over
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
7 4.8

To suddenly lose control and show strong anger

is similar but often evokes a brief, sharper reaction
to froth at the mouth
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
5 8.6

To be extremely angry and unable to control oneself

is similar but usually evokes a less extreme image
to hit the roof
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
4 6.7

To suddenly become very angry

is similar but often used in less formal, joking contexts
to combust
vsto flip one's lid
4 8.2

To become suddenly very angry and lose control

is similar but often carries a more casual or joking tone
to hit the ceiling
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
3 6.8

To suddenly get very angry

is similar but often expressed in a more playful way
to lose one's temper
vsto flip one's lid
2 3.7

To suddenly become very angry and not be able to control yourself

is similar but often more idiomatic and lighter in tone
to blow one's stack
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
2 8.6

Suddenly get very angry and show it

is similar but often implies a quicker, smaller outburst
to raise the roof
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
1 8.0

Get very angry and shout loudly

is similar but often suggests a quicker, less loud reaction
to blow a fuse
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
1 7.4

To suddenly become very angry

is similar but often used in a more playful way
to pop off
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
1 8.1

To suddenly say something angry without warning

is more about an internal sudden loss of emotional control
to flip your lid
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
1 8.6

To suddenly become very angry and lose control

is similar but often used more playfully or lightly
to flip shit
vsto flip one's lid
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To suddenly become very angry

is similar but often expressed with milder words
to blow one's top
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
8.0

To suddenly become very angry

is similar but sometimes feels less extreme in image
to throw a wobbly
vsto flip one's lid
  • UK
9.9

To become suddenly very angry and upset in a dramatic way

is similar but often used more casually or jokingly
to flip the bitch switch
vsto flip one's lid
  • Offensive
9.9

To suddenly become very angry and behave in a mean way

is similar but usually implies less aggression and more surprise
to flip one's wig
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
9.9

To suddenly become very angry and lose control of yourself

is similar but often used in a less severe sense
to lose one's shit
vsto flip one's lid
  • Offensive
9.9

To suddenly become very angry or upset in a way you cannot control

is similar in suddenness but uses less crude language
to lose one's cool
vsto flip one's lid
  • Informal
5.9

To suddenly become very angry and fail to control your feelings

is more about losing control quickly and intensely

Antonyms

to keep one's temper
1 4.4

Stay calm and not get angry in a difficult situation

How Angry

to go berserk
  • Informal
27 7.7
to go ballistic
  • Informal
22 7.5
to flip one's lid
  • Informal
9.1
to anger
114 1.0

Surface Forms

flip one's lid infinitive
flipped one's lid past
flipped one's lid past participle
flipping one's lid present participle
flips one's lid third person singular

Morphology

flip + one's + lid

The verb 'flip' can convey a sudden loss of control or a quick turning action and 'one's lid' literally names a cover, so the phrase is partly analyzable as 'turning one's cover' → losing control. However the mapping of 'lid' onto 'head/temper' is metaphorical and not obviously predictable to learners without exposure, so a B1 who knows the words might guess the general sense but not confidently, making it only partially transparent.

Etymology

Flip one's lid may come from the picture of a hat or pot lid flying off someone's head when they suddenly lose control of their feelings. One popular story says that image explains why it now means 'to suddenly become very angry'.