English Grammar - Idioms and Phrases

English Grammar
English Grammar - Idioms and Phrases

Choose the correct meaning of idiom: Fly off the handle


Options:

  1. To escape quietly
  2. To disappear quickly
  3. To become suddenly angry
  4. To handle a situation smartly

Right Answer: To become suddenly angry

The idiom 'fly off the handle' is drawn from the image of an axe head flying off its wooden handle in mid-swing, suddenly and dangerously. Applied to people, it means to lose one's temper abruptly and without warning, as in a manager who flew off the handle over a small mistake. Option three captures this sense exactly. The idiom has nothing to do with escaping or disappearing, despite the presence of the word 'fly', and it certainly does not mean handling a situation skilfully, which reverses the meaning. Hence the correct answer is 'To become suddenly angry'.

This question is part of English Grammar - Idioms and Phrases, which has 10 practice questions with answers.

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