fly off the handle —(coll.) get into a rage; lose one’s temper:
- When we are under stress, we are more likely to fly off the handle.
go off the handle —(coll.)
1. = fly off the handle:
- Jimmy went off the handle at once; and Nicol kept patting him on the back.
2. die:
- My old gentleman means to be Mayor before he goes off the handle.
Note: Neither expression is antonymous in meaning to the phrase get a handle on something—understand or be able to master smth. fully:
- This book should prove useful for anyone who wants to get a handle on this complex subject.