Flying Off the Handle 🗯️
To lose one’s temper.
Definition:
To suddenly and unexpectedly become very angry.
Origin and Background:
The analogy here is to a loosened hammerhead that comes off after it has struck a blow. The term is American in origin and dates from the early nineteenth century. “He flies right off the handle for nothing,” wrote Thomas Haliburton (Sam Slick in England, 1843).
Synonyms:
- Blow a fuse
- Hit the roof
- Lose it
- Go ballistic
- Lose one’s cool
Antonyms:
- Keep one’s cool
- Stay composed
- Maintain one’s temper
- Hold your horses
Humor-Filled Quotes:
“Some people create their own storms, then get mad when it rains.” - Anonymous
“When angry, count to four; when very angry, swear.” - Mark Twain
Similar Expressions:
- Blow one’s top 🌋
- Flip out
- Have a cow
- Go nuts
Proverbs:
“A quick temper will make a fool of you soon enough.”
Literature References:
- Tom Sawyer (1876) by Mark Twain
- The Catcher in the Rye (1951) by J.D. Salinger
- Of Mice and Men (1937) by John Steinbeck
Movies:
- Anger Management (2003)
- Inside Out (2015)
Songs:
- “You Oughtta Know” by Alanis Morissette
- “Break Stuff” by Limp Bizkit
Inspirational Farewell:
Remember, it’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s how you carry it. Keep your cool, and tackle life’s challenges with grace.
### What's a synonym for "flying off the handle"?
- [x] Going ballistic
- [ ] Speaking softly
- [ ] Tiptoeing on eggshells
- [ ] Passing the buck
> **Explanation:** "Going ballistic" is another way of saying someone lost their temper, while the other options suggest avoidance or calm behavior.
### True or False: "Holding your horses" means the same as "flying off the handle."
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** "Holding your horses" means to be patient or wait, which is the opposite of losing one’s temper.
### Which book references temper-related phrases?
- [ ] *Pride and Prejudice*
- [x] *Tom Sawyer*
- [ ] *Moby Dick*
- [ ] *Jane Eyre*
> **Explanation:** *Tom Sawyer* features various temper-related phrases that reflect the title character's frequent emotional outbursts.
### Which of these is a real idiom?
- [x] Blow a fuse
- [ ] Twist a pancake
- [ ] Laughing at sunshine
- [ ] Dancing with clocks
> **Explanation:** "Blow a fuse" is a real idiom for losing one's temper. The other options are whimsical and nonexistent idioms.
### True or False: "Going bananas" is an idiom for losing one’s temper.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** "Going bananas" means to go crazy or lose one’s cool, which can be similar to losing one’s temper in intense moments.
