Fly off the handle

Meaning

Lose one's temper suddenly.

Usage

Describes abrupt anger eruptions.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Axes sometimes flew off the handle when the head was loose.

Industrial-age writers described both tools and tempers with this imagery.