Did you see someone you dislike and suddenly turn to anger? You could say you flew into a "fit of rage." This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The expression "fit of rage" means someone lost control of their emotions and displayed a bad temper or outburst of anger at someone or something. A fit of rage is a tantrum or outburst occurring in unreasonable circumstances. The person undergoing the fit of rage may feel they were wronged, or they may be standing up for someone they think is treated unfairly.
Example Usage
"I told the customer they were not eligible for a refund with their previous purchase, and they flew into a fit of rage against me. I'm not the one responsible for store policy" why don't they take it out on the management?"
"She flew into a fit of rage against her boyfriend after he told her he cheated on her with her best friend. Now he's facing a huge lawsuit."
"The driver flew into a fit of rage against the pedestrian and shot him out of anger and spite. The cops arrested him, and now he's facing life in prison for murder."
"There's no reason for people to lose control of their emotions and turn into a fit of rage against anyone. People need to learn how to control themselves."
"The world is getting angrier with each passing day. It's common to see people fly into a fit of rage against others for the smallest indiscretions."
"I'm telling you; he went crazy. He flew into a fit of rage, pulled out a knife, and started stabbing people, I was there, and I saw everything."
"The game flew into a fit of rage and threw his laptop across the room out of anger."
"I can't stand the sight of her. Every time I see her, I just want to fly into a fit of rage and kill her. I think I need to go somewhere and calm down."
"If you don't leave me alone, I'm going to fly into a fit of rage, and I can't be responsible for my actions when that happens. Do me a favor and leave now before you get hurt."
"When I think about how that dealership treated me, I want to fly into a fit of rage and drive the car through the showroom window. Here take my keys, so I don't act on my emotions."
Origin
The expression "fit of rage" has an unknown origin. Language experts cannot pinpoint the phrase's first use or who coined the term. However, some believe the saying originates from the 1500s Middle English, meaning an exciting or painful experience.
Phrases Similar to Fit of Rage
- Fit of anger.
- Blind fury.
Phrases Opposite to Fit of Rage
- Cool as a cucumber.
- Cool, calm, and collected.
What is the Correct Saying?
- Fit of rage.
Ways People May Say Fit of Rage Incorrectly
The expression "fit of rage" doesn't refer to fitness. A fit is a mental state where you focus on one specific emotion. A fit is not the same thing as a seizure. In a seizure, you are not conscious of your actions, whereas, in a fit of rage, you're aware of your behavior and its outcome.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Fit of Rage
You can use the phrase "fit of rage" to describe situations where you lose control of your emotions and "fly" into a mental state where you lose control of the ability to maintain a calm persona. A rage fit means you're blinded to the outcome of your emotional attack. It can apply to a physical outburst at other people in person or online.
The saying applies to professional and social situations. For instance, you could say a customer flew into a fit of rage at the staff, or your kids flew into a "fit of rage" against their mother when she asked them to clean their room.