How do you say “Fly off the handle” in Spanish?
The closest natural Spanish equivalent is perder los estribos, which literally means “to lose the stirrups”. English speakers use fly off the handle to mean to suddenly become very angry and react without much self-control. Add “enseguida” or “en cuanto…” if the sudden timing matters. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural Spanish
perder los estribos
/peɾˈðeɾ los esˈtɾiβos/
- Literal meaning
- “to lose the stirrups”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
94 out of 100
What a native Spanish speaker would actually say
“Perder los estribos” describes losing your temper. To stress the sudden reaction in “fly off the handle,” add “enseguida” or say what immediately triggered it.
Unlike the broader English “lose it,” this idiom specifically means anger. It doesn't describe uncontrollable tears or laughter.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity2 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in Spanish?
ponerse hecho una furia
Literally: “to become a fury”
More emphatic, focusing on the furious state.
estallar de ira
Literally: “to burst with anger”
Clearly describes suddenly getting very angry.
In context
English
He flew off the handle as soon as I mentioned the bill.
Spanish
Perdió los estribos en cuanto mencioné la factura.
English
Don't fly off the handle; it was an honest mistake.
Spanish
No pierdas los estribos; fue un error sin mala intención.
Related expressions
- What “Fly off the handle” means in English
- Lose it, Suddenly lose emotional control.
- Drive someone up the wall, Make someone extremely annoyed.
Last updated 2026-09-16