going ballistic
Losing all composure
Going ballistic means losing control in an explosive outburst of anger: My dad went ballistic when he saw the dent in his car.
The phrase borrows from missile terminology—a ballistic trajectory is unpowered and unguided after launch, following only physics.
Someone going ballistic has similarly lost the ability to steer themselves.
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
- furiousExtremely angry
- enragedExtremely, intensely provoked
- hitting the roofLosing one's temper
- nuclearOf atomic energy
meltdown · erupting · unhinged · short fuse · rage · blood boiling · screaming · losing it · freaking out · blowing up · tantrum · tirade · fit of rage · apoplectic · missile · rocket · trajectory · launch
- extreme reactionsfreakout, meltdown, hysteria, panic, outrage
- overreactionsoverreaction, meltdown, tantrum, hissy fit, freakout
- meltdownsnuclear meltdown, reactor meltdown, meltdown, freak out, losing it
- escalationescalation, escalate, ratchet up, worsen, intensify
going ballisticholding it together
Maintaining composure despite strain
taking it in stride · biting one's tongue · counting to ten · rolling with the punches · de-escalating
going, ballistic, ball, balls, balled, balling, ballistics, ballistically