lose it
Fly off handle
To lose it is to lose control, either emotionally or mentally.
Someone who loses it might burst into tears, fly into a rage, or break down laughing: When she saw the mess, she completely lost it.
The phrase can also mean to lose one's mind or sanity: I think he's finally lost it.
Context usually clarifies which kind of control has slipped.
Intense, violent anger
- furyIntense violent anger
- temperState of mind
- outburstSudden emotional release
- meltdownCatastrophic loss of control
tantrum · snap · explode · blow up · freak out · flip out · go off · erupt
Fail mechanically or emotionally
- crackNarrow break or attempt
- fall apartBreak into pieces
- unravelSeparate intertwined strands
- crumbleFragment gradually
dissolve · sob · weep · overwhelmed · emotional · tearful · distraught · hysterical
rage
Intense, violent anger
meltdown · tantrum · snap · explode · blow up · freak out · flip out · go off · erupt · see red
break down
Fail mechanically or emotionally
- crackNarrow break or attempt
- fall apartBreak into pieces
- unravelSeparate intertwined strands
crumble · dissolve · sob · weep · overwhelmed · emotional · tearful · distraught · hysterical · panicked
crazy
Mentally unhinged
breakdown · psychotic · delusional · paranoid · unstable · irrational · madness · insanity · cracked · snapped
- anger expressionssee red, seeing red, blow a fuse, blow a gasket, blow your top
- overreactfreak out, panic, explode, blow up, meltdown
- ragerage, fury, wrath, enraged, furious
- insanityinsane, crazy, mad, lunatic, insanity
- vomitingvomit, puke, barf, throw up, throwing up
- chaosmayhem, chaotic, pandemonium, bedlam, turmoil
lose itkeep it together
Maintain composure under pressure
stay calm · keep one's cool · hold it together · keep one's head · bite one's tongue