to fly off
7
5.3
- phrasal verb
- /flaɪ ɔf/
- Informal
:
perder los estribos
- Young people fly off the handle.
- fly off the handle
But then if he does the same, oh, you, you, you go fly off the handle.
- But then if he does the same, oh, you, you, you go fly off the handle.
Examples
-
When Stacey is practicing mindfully and a colleague or opponent flies off the handle, she tries to simply notice the feelings that come up for her without responding reflexively.
Academic text (1999) -
You flew off the handle...
-
We meet people who fly off the handle, we meet people who shut down.
-
There you go again, Horse: flying off the handle.
-
And he probably will say something like that to get you to fly off the handle and say something rash.
-
Don't go flying off the handle.
-
Don't fly off the handle!
-
He flies off the handle sometimes, but we're good friends.
-
Don't let it! Smile even when you're in a hurry, and don't fly off the handle at honest mistakes.
Blog text (28) -
I knew he would fly off the handle if I mentioned his mistake.
Synonyms
187
3.5
To suddenly show a strong feeling, often anger
143
7.5
To suddenly become very angry, excited, or surprised
49
7.2
To suddenly lose control and become very angry or upset
27
7.7
To become very angry and act out of control
22
7.5
Suddenly become very angry
18
4.4
To show sudden strong anger or upset, often like a child
16
4.7
To suddenly become very angry and lose control
16
5.3
To suddenly become very angry or upset and show it strongly
15
8.1
Suddenly act in a very emotional and out of control way
12
6.1
To suddenly become very angry or upset in a loud, obvious way
11
6.8
To suddenly become very angry
10
6.8
To become very angry suddenly
7
4.8
To suddenly lose control and show strong anger
4
6.7
To suddenly become very angry
3
6.8
To suddenly get very angry
2
3.7
To suddenly become very angry and not be able to control yourself
2
8.6
Suddenly get very angry and show it
2
9.9
To become very angry and act in a wild, out of control way
1
8.0
Get very angry and shout loudly
1
7.4
To suddenly become very angry
1
8.1
To suddenly say something angry without warning
1
9.9
To suddenly get very angry and speak loudly for a long time
1
8.6
To suddenly become very angry and lose control
1
9.9
To suddenly become very angry
To suddenly become very angry
To become suddenly very angry and lose control
To suddenly become very angry and lose control of yourself
To suddenly become very angry and behave in a mean way
To suddenly become very angry or upset and act childishly
To become suddenly very angry and upset in a dramatic way
To suddenly become very angry and fail to control your feelings
Antonyms
How Angry
Surface Forms
Morphology
The literal parts 'fly' (move quickly) + 'off' (away) yield a sense of sudden departure or abrupt change, which can be metaphorically extended to losing control of one's temper. However, the specific sense 'suddenly become very angry' is a figurative extension not directly derivable from the constituents, so a B1 learner who knows the words is unlikely to predict the exact meaning without exposure.
Etymology
Fly off uses the image of fly and off, like a lid or a bird that leaves very quickly. So, the phrase is used when someone 'suddenly becomes very angry or upset'.