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Glite Dictionary
to have a fit

to have a fit

16 5.3
To suddenly become very angry or upset and show it strongly
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : ponerse furioso
  • Dad would have a fit if he knew I was here.
  • gonna have a fit
  • Mom would have a fit
  • Dad would have a fit

I'm going to have a fit because this damn thing, it's flashing away.

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Examples

Synonyms

to lose it
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
289 7.5

Suddenly stop controlling your feelings and become very angry or upset

is similar but uses less coarse or vulgar tone
to explode
vsto have a fit
187 3.5

To suddenly show a strong feeling, often anger

is limited to sudden strong anger or upset specifically
to snap
vsto have a fit
151 4.0

Say something quickly and angrily after losing control

is similar but can be more physical or noisy than speech
to erupt
vsto have a fit
123 4.2

To suddenly start in a strong or violent way, often showing strong feeling

is more specific to anger and visible upset
to rage
vsto have a fit
84 4.8

To feel very angry and unable to control it

is similar but can include less violent or nonphysical upset
to go berserk
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
27 7.7

To become very angry and act out of control

is similar but may be less violent or less physical
to go ballistic
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
22 7.5

Suddenly become very angry

is similar but can be less intense or loud
to throw a tantrum
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
18 4.4

To show sudden strong anger or upset, often like a child

is similar but not always childish or theatrical
to blow up
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
16 4.7

To suddenly become very angry and lose control

is similar but can be less forceful or direct
to throw a fit
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
12 6.1

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

is similar but may be more idiomatic and emphatic
to fly off the handle
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
11 6.8

To suddenly become very angry

is similar but may imply a briefer or calmer loss
to wig out
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
11 9.2

React with strong fear or excitement and lose control

is focused on sudden anger or upset rather than other emotions
to see red
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
10 6.8

To become very angry suddenly

is similar but focuses more on outward upset display
to fly off
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
7 5.3

To suddenly get very angry without warning

is similar but may stress visible show rather than speed
to boil over
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
7 4.8

To suddenly lose control and show strong anger

is similar but may emphasise anger more than general emotion
to hit the roof
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
4 6.7

To suddenly become very angry

is similar but can be milder or less shocked
to combust
vsto have a fit
4 8.2

To become suddenly very angry and lose control

is similar but may be used more literally or medically
to hit the ceiling
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
3 6.8

To suddenly get very angry

is similar but may be less idiomatic or dramatic
to lose one's temper
vsto have a fit
2 3.7

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

is the same sudden strong upset but may stress visible display
to blow one's stack
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
2 8.6

Suddenly get very angry and show it

is similar but can be less loud or extreme
to blow a fuse
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
1 7.4

To suddenly become very angry

is similar but may include longer or louder displays
to pop off
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
1 8.1

To suddenly say something angry without warning

is similar but also covers nonverbal angry or upset displays
to go off on one
vsto have a fit
  • UK
1 9.9

To suddenly get very angry and speak loudly for a long time

is similar but often shorter and more physical than verbal
to throw a wobbly
vsto have a fit
  • UK
9.9

To become suddenly very angry and upset in a dramatic way

is similar but can be less theatrical or childish
to throw a snit
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
8.7

To suddenly become very angry or upset and act childishly

is similar but can be less childish or exaggerated
to blow one's top
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
8.0

To suddenly become very angry

is the same sudden strong upset but may be less idiomatic
to lose one's shit
vsto have a fit
  • Offensive
9.9

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

is the same sudden upset but in a less vulgar register
to lose one's cool
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
5.9

To suddenly become very angry and fail to control your feelings

is similar but may be less stress-specific and more general
to begin to fume
vsto have a fit
5.8

Start to show obvious anger, often with a red face and raised voice

is the full sudden strong emotional outburst rather than the start
to flip one's lid
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
9.1

To become suddenly very angry and lose control

is equivalent but often less idiomatic or casual
to flip one's wig
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
9.9

To suddenly become very angry and lose control of yourself

is similar but can be calmer or less dramatic
to have kittens
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
8.8

Become very upset or angry in a way that is too strong

is similar but centers on anger and strong upset rather than anxiety
to go into a tizzy
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
8.3

Get very upset and confused quickly

is the same sudden strong anger display rather than general agitation
to burst a blood vessel
vsto have a fit
  • Informal
6.9

To become very angry or upset in a way people notice

is sudden very strong anger or upset without a physical medical implication
to radge over
vsto have a fit
  • UK
9.9

Get very angry or upset about small things

is sudden strong anger that can follow any size of trigger

Antonyms

to calm down
  • Informal
594 1.4

To become less angry, excited, or upset

composed
1 4.3

Calm and in control of your feelings during stress

How Angry

to throw a tantrum
  • Informal
18 4.4
to fly off
  • Informal
7 5.3
to have a fit
  • Informal
16 5.3
to upset
362 1.0
annoyed
77 1.0

Surface Forms

have a fit infinitive
had a fit past
had a fit past participle
having a fit present participle
has a fit third person singular

Morphology

have + a + fit

The phrase is partly compositional: 'have' = experience and 'fit' = a sudden paroxysm of emotion or activity, so a learner who knows both words can infer 'experience a sudden outburst' and thus likely 'become very angry or upset.' However the specific non-medical, emotive nuance (anger/upset rather than a medical seizure) and conventionalized pragmatic use mean the exact sense is not fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

Have a fit comes from an older use of fit for a sudden, uncontrolled attack, when a person might shake or collapse and lose control of their body. So the image of that sudden loss of control explains why have a fit now means 'to suddenly become very angry or upset and show it strongly'.