Meaning & use
flipped lid
Last updated
Meaning
phraseidiominformal
To suddenly become very angry or lose control of one's emotions.
Grammar: Often used with a possessive adjective: 'He flipped his lid.' It can also be used without a possessive: 'She flipped lid' is not standard; always include a possessive or use 'flip a lid' informally.
Patterns
- flip one's lid
- flip a lid
When he saw the mess in the kitchen, he completely flipped his lid.
My mom will flip her lid if she finds out I borrowed her car without asking.
The boss flipped his lid when he learned the project was behind schedule.
Common combinations
- flip one's lid
- He flipped his lid when he saw the bill.
- completely flip one's lid
- She completely flipped her lid over the mistake.
- flip a lid
- Don't flip a lid; we can fix this.
Synonyms and how they differ
- blow one's top
- Also informal and means to become very angry, but it often suggests a more explosive outburst.
- hit the roof
- Similar meaning, but often used when someone reacts to bad news with sudden anger.
- lose it
- More general; can mean to lose emotional control in any way, not just anger.
Opposites
Commonly confused: flipped lid or flip out?
flipped lid vs flip out
To 'flip out' means to become very excited, anxious, or angry, but it is broader and can include panic or excitement, not just anger.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'flipped lid' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The idiom is 'flip one's lid', so 'his lid' is correct. Option An is missing a possessive; option C is literal and not the idiom; option D uses 'a lid' but in a literal sense, not the idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “flipped lid”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.