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Glite Dictionary
to hit the ceiling

to hit the ceiling

3 6.8
To suddenly get very angry
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : enfurecerse
  • When I told my boss about the mistake, he hit the ceiling with anger.
  • hit the ceiling when she sees

Examples

Synonyms

to explode
vsto hit the ceiling
187 3.5

To suddenly show a strong feeling, often anger

is sudden anger specifically not broad emotional bursts
to go ballistic
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
22 7.5

Suddenly become very angry

is sudden anger but usually described less violently
to blow up
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
16 4.7

To suddenly become very angry and lose control

is sudden anger described more neutrally and generally
to have a fit
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
16 5.3

To suddenly become very angry or upset and show it strongly

is sudden anger but with a more neutral, common tone
to throw a fit
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
12 6.1

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

is sudden anger without the theatrical or dramatic sense
to fly off the handle
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
11 6.8

To suddenly become very angry

is sudden anger but without implying quick action
to see red
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
10 6.8

To become very angry suddenly

is sudden anger but less focused on visible fury
to fly off
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
7 5.3

To suddenly get very angry without warning

is sudden anger described as a standard emotional change
to hit the roof
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
4 6.7

To suddenly become very angry

is sudden anger described in a more neutral phrase
to combust
vsto hit the ceiling
4 8.2

To become suddenly very angry and lose control

is sudden anger described in plain, literal wording
to lose one's temper
vsto hit the ceiling
2 3.7

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

is sudden anger but framed more simply and briefly
to blow one's stack
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
2 8.6

Suddenly get very angry and show it

is sudden anger but expressed without that loss of control
to go batshit
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Offensive
2 9.9

To become very angry and act in a wild, out of control way

is sudden anger but usually stays within normal control
to raise the roof
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
1 8.0

Get very angry and shout loudly

is sudden anger often described without public performance
to blow a fuse
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
1 7.4

To suddenly become very angry

is sudden anger without stressing extreme rage
to pop off
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
1 8.1

To suddenly say something angry without warning

is sudden anger that may or may not include speech
to go off on one
vsto hit the ceiling
  • UK
1 9.9

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

is sudden anger that need not last or include long speech
to flip your lid
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
1 8.6

To suddenly become very angry and lose control

is sudden anger but used in everyday neutral speech
to have kittens
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
8.8

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

is sudden anger focused on quick, direct anger rather than anxiety
to radge over
vsto hit the ceiling
  • UK
9.9

Get very angry or upset about small things

is sudden anger without implying the cause is minor
to flip one's wig
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
9.9

To suddenly become very angry and lose control of yourself

is sudden anger without the extra emotional drama implied here
to throw a wobbly
vsto hit the ceiling
  • UK
9.9

To become suddenly very angry and upset in a dramatic way

is sudden anger described more neutrally without dramatics
to throw a snit
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
8.7

To suddenly become very angry or upset and act childishly

is sudden anger without implying childish behaviour
to burst a blood vessel
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
6.9

To become very angry or upset in a way people notice

is sudden anger described more simply and directly
to flip one's lid
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Informal
9.1

To become suddenly very angry and lose control

is sudden anger without implying dramatic loss of control
to flip the bitch switch
vsto hit the ceiling
  • Offensive
9.9

To suddenly become very angry and behave in a mean way

is sudden anger but usually less coarse or aggressive

Antonyms

calm
735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

to keep it together
  • Informal
27 5.4

To stay calm and control your feelings in a difficult situation

How Angry

enraged
4.1
to hit the ceiling
  • Informal
3 6.8
angry
∞ 1.0
annoyed
77 1.0
irritated
44 3.1

Surface Forms

hit the ceiling infinitive
hit the ceiling past
hit the ceiling past participle
hitting the ceiling present participle
hits the ceiling third person singular

Morphology

hit + the + ceiling

The meaning 'to suddenly become very angry' is only partially inferable from 'hit' + 'ceiling' because it relies on a metaphor of emotions rising and striking an upper limit rather than a literal striking action; the literal constituents do not directly denote anger. Cross-linguistic parallels (e.g., French 'sauter au plafond') may help some learners guess the sense, but the mapping is not fully predictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure.

Etymology

Hit the ceiling creates an image of someone so angry they jump up and hit the ceiling above them. That's why it means 'to become very angry'.