1. Become suddenly very angry
   "The professor flew off the handle when the student didn't know the answer to a very elementary question";
   - flip one's lid [N. Amer, informal], blow up [informal], throw a fit [informal], hit the roof [informal], hit the ceiling [informal], have a fit [informal], blow one's stack [N. Amer, informal], flip one's wig [US, informal], lose one's temper, blow a fuse [informal], go ballistic [informal], go mental [informal], blow a gasket [informal], go off the deep end [informal], go ape [informal], blow one's top [informal]

Derived forms: flies off the handle, flown off the handle, flying off the handle, flew off the handle

Type of: rage