flip one's lid

idiomatic phrase

variants or chiefly US flip one's wig
informal
: to lose one's reason or composure
You can't just up and quit! Have you flipped your lid?
Grandpa's been just dying for something like this. If he saw it, he would just flip his lid.The Munsters
especially : to become very angry or enraged
His mother flipped her lid when she found out what a risk he'd taken.
You say after flipping his wig he calms down, reflects and apologizes. That's a good sign. David Eddie

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of flip one's lid was in 1930

Dictionary Entries Near flip one's lid

Cite this Entry

“Flip one's lid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flip%20one%27s%20lid. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!