flip one's lid
blow up *
throw a fit
hit the roof
hit the ceiling
have kittens
have a fit
combust
blow one's stack
fly off the handle
flip one's wig
lose one's temper
blow a fuse
go ballistic

He had enough problems as it was, without having his mother flip her lid and causing trouble.

The sheriff looked at Pablo as if he'd flipped his lid.

Don't let the kid see it, he might guess what it is and flip his lid.

After all, who wants an ally who flips his lid in a crisis?

The phrase is clearly figurative, not intended to be taken literally any more than "flipped his lid."

She was gazing at him as if he'd flipped his lid.

He stared at her as if she'd flipped her lid.

The two strangers looked like Jake has started to flip his lid.

"I have not flipped my lid like that since," he said.

Bill looked at me as if I'd flipped my lid.