fly off the handle
激怒する
解説 Definition
突然かっとなって怒りを爆発させること。感情のコントロールを失って激怒する。
This idiom means to suddenly become very angry and react in a strong way. It is used when someone loses control of their temper quickly, often over something small. The phrase usually suggests an emotional and unplanned reaction.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
「fly off」で何かが急に飛び出す感じをつかむと、この熟語は覚えやすい。怒りがじわじわ高まるというより、ある一言をきっかけに感情が一気に表へ噴き出す場面を思い浮かべると定着する。単なる be angry より、lose one’s temper や snap に近い「突然カッとなる」ニュアンス。Don’t fly off the handle. のように、言いすぎる直前の会話場面とセットで覚えると使い分けしやすい。
Focus on "fly off" as something suddenly shooting away. This helps you remember a fast, explosive loss of temper, not slow anger. It is close to "snap" or "lose your temper," so connect it with a moment when one small thing makes someone suddenly angry.
例文
He flew off the handle when he discovered someone had dented his new car.
誰かが新車にへこみをつけたと知って、彼は激怒した。
Try not to fly off the handle — let's discuss this calmly and find a solution.
かっとならないようにしよう。落ち着いて話し合って解決策を見つけよう。
She tends to fly off the handle over minor inconveniences, which makes working with her difficult.
彼女はささいな不便でもすぐに激怒する傾向があり、一緒に仕事をするのが難しい。
fly off the handle の類義語・関連語
fly off the handle の語源・成り立ち Etymology
fly は古英語 fleogan、handle は hand と同じゲルマン系語根から出た語で、構成は fly + off + the + handle。斧の頭が柄から飛んで制御不能になる絵が『激怒する』に転じた表現で、flight や handle が同根だと比喩の鋭さが見える。
The phrase uses "fly," from Old English "fleogan," and "handle," a Germanic word related to "hand." It likely comes from the image of an axe head flying off its handle and becoming suddenly dangerous and uncontrollable. That physical loss of control later became a metaphor for a person suddenly losing their temper.
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