hit the roof — to become extremely angry or furious
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to become extremely angry or furious
Pronunciation (IPA): /hɪt ðə ruːf/
Example Sentences
- My mom will hit the roof when she sees my report card.
- The boss hit the roof after discovering the missing files.
- I thought Dad would hit the roof, but he just laughed at my mistake.
hit the roof
NOUN[/hɪt ðə ruːf/]
to become extremely angry or furious

a father slams his fist down on the kitchen table making dishes jump and rattle everywhere. His face is bright red with bulging eyes and steam literally coming out of his ears. A spilled glass of milk spreads across the table after his children were fighting over toys. The mess from their argument has knocked over salt shakers and scattered food everywhere. His wife covers her mouth in shock while the two young children cower behind their chairs. Everyone in the kitchen freezes as they witness his explosive reaction to the chaos. someone becoming extremely angry and furious
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This idiom derives from a vivid metaphorical image in which anger becomes so intense it metaphorically strikes or shatters the roof of a building. The expression captures the explosive nature of rage, suggesting that one's anger rises so dramatically it pierces through the ceiling and reaches the roof—a hyperbolical representation of losing one's temper completely.
Breakdown
hit (strike forcefully) + the roof (the topmost structural element of a building) = to become so angry that one's rage metaphorically reaches the highest point, originally suggesting fury explosive enough to breach through to the roof itself.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom will hit the roof when she sees my report card.”
“The boss hit the roof after discovering the missing files.”
“I thought Dad would hit the roof, but he just laughed at my mistake.”
“She hit the roof when she found out her cat had eaten her homework.”
📚Related Words
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