perdere le staffe

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “to lose the stirrups”.

Verb

pèrdere le staffe (first-person singular present pèrdo le staffe, first-person singular past historic pèrsi le staffe or perdétti le staffe or (traditional) perdètti le staffe or (less common) perdéi le staffe, past participle pèrso le staffe or perdùto le staffe, auxiliary avére)

1. (idiomatic) to lose one's temper; to lose it

   Synonyms: adirarsi, incollerirsi; see also Thesaurus:arrabbiarsi

   talvolta anche i più tranquilli perdono le staffe

   sometimes even the quietest ones lose it