The idiom fly off the handle means to lose one’s temper suddenly and unexpectedly. It is an informal expression that uses the image of a loose head of an axe flying off its handle while the axe is being swung. Here are some examples of how to use it in a sentence:
- He tends to fly off the handle when people disagree with him.
- I’m sorry I flew off the handle earlier. I was having a bad day.
- She flew off the handle when she saw the mess in the kitchen.
