What does Fly off the handle mean?

Answer 1

Meaning:

Lose self control.

Origin:

This is an American phrase and it alludes to the uncontrolled way a loose axe-head flies off from its handle. It is first found in print in Thomas C. Haliburton's The Attaché; or, Sam Slick in England, 1843/4:"He flies right off the handle for nothing."
To get very angry and lose self control
It means to become so enraged that you lose your self control and become dangerous to others. Origin: From "Why You Say It" by Webb Garrison (Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, Tenn.)

"Fly off the handle - If you've ever seen a person 'fly off the handle,' you may have been impressed at the energy and speed involved with that eruption of anger. Frontiersmen found it hard to control their tempers when tools suddenly failed them. A common cause of such a turn of events was the shrinkage of wood - universally used to tool handles. After having hung in a shed for months, the handle of a hoe or a rake was likely to come off after a few strokes. In the case of an ax, badly worn or shrunken wood is positively dangerous because the head of the tool can come loose at the first lick. When the blade of an ax flies off the handle, it endangers the user and everyone standing nearby. That makes it almost as great a source of danger as a violent explosion of temper." lose your temper

Answer 2

It means to become so enraged that you lose your self control and become dangerous to others. Origin:

From "Why You Say It" by Webb Garrison (Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, Tenn.)

"Fly off the handle - If you've ever seen a person 'fly off the handle,' you may have been impressed at the energy and speed involved with that eruption of anger. Frontiersmen found it hard to control their tempers when tools suddenly failed them. A common cause of such a turn of events was the shrinkage of wood - universally used to tool handles. After having hung in a shed for months, the handle of a hoe or a rake was likely to come off after a few strokes. In the case of an ax, badly worn or shrunken wood is positively dangerous because the head of the tool can come loose at the first lick. When the blade of an ax flies off the handle, it endangers the user and everyone standing nearby. That makes it almost as great a source of danger as a violent explosion of temper."

I think that fly off handle means become suddenly angry!

To get very angry and lose control.

To react angrily in such a way that is unnecessary or sudden. It comes from the reaction of touching a pan handle that is too hot and cursing. Maybe the person is already stressed and needs somewhere to vent their anger.

Answer 3

To fly off the handle means you are very mad. You have lost your temper.