Question

Choose the exact meaning of the idiom/ phrase-
To fly off the handle

a) To break something
b) To be indifferent
c) To act foolishly
d) To get into a rage and lose self-control

Answer 1

Hint: An idiom refers to a phrase or a group of words that are different in meaning to the literal meaning of its words.

Complete answer:

‘To fly off the handle’ refers to losing one’s temper or having a fit. The idiom ‘to fly off the handle’ was first printed in ‘Sam Slick in England’ by Thomas Haliburton.
We know the meaning and the origin of the given idiom. Now, let’s look at its usage:
Example- Mother flies off the handle without a reason. Here, we can understand that the mother loses temper and gets angry without a reason.
Let’s examine the given options-
a) To break something- It means to shatter something in pieces. It is different in meaning to the above-given idiom. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
b) To be indifferent- It means to be unconcerned or passionless. It is different in meaning to the above-given idiom. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
c) To act foolishly- It means to act absurdly or unwisely. It is different in meaning to the above-given idiom. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
d) To get into a rage and lose self-control- It means losing one’s temper and get angry. It is similar in meaning to the above-given idiom. Hence, it is the correct option.
The correct answer is Option ‘d’.

Note: Keep in mind, idioms focus on the metaphorical meaning of the words and not the literal meaning.