fly off the handle

The phrase 'perder los estribos' is a Spanish idiom that translates to 'losing one's temper' in English. It refers to a situation where a person becomes extremely angry or upset, often unexpectedly, causing them to lose control over their emotions. This expression originates from the literal act of losing the stirrups on a horse, which symbolizes a loss of balance or control. When someone 'pierde los estribos', it indicates that they have crossed a threshold of patience and are reacting in an uncontrolled manner.

Example sentences using: perder los estribos

No quiero perder los estribos durante la reunión.

I don't want to lose my temper during the meeting.

This phrase expresses the speaker's desire to remain calm and composed, especially in a potentially stressful situation like a meeting.

A veces, es fácil perder los estribos cuando estamos frustrados.

Sometimes, it is easy to lose our temper when we are frustrated.

Here, the speaker is acknowledging that emotions can affect behavior and that frustration can lead to losing one's temper.

Ella suele perder los estribos cuando algo no sale como espera.

She tends to lose her temper when things don’t go as she expects.

This sentence illustrates how a person's expectations can trigger emotional reactions, specifically losing one's temper.