Idioms for Going Crazy

Idioms for Going Crazy

Our mental state is a complex and fascinating thing. Sometimes, the best way to describe it isn’t with literal language, but with a dash of humor and metaphor. That’s where idioms about going crazy come in! These colorful expressions add a touch of whimsy (or intensity) to situations where emotions run high, logic goes out the window, and sanity might be hanging by a thread.

List of Going Crazy Idioms

Going Crazy Idioms with Meaning and Examples

Lose one’s marbles

• Meaning: To lose one’s mental faculties; to become crazy or irrational.
• Example: After his accident, he started to lose his marbles and couldn’t remember simple things.

Off one’s rocker

• Meaning: Behaving irrationally; mentally unstable.
• Example: He’s off his rocker if he thinks that plan will work.

Mad as a hatter

• Meaning: Completely crazy or insane.
• Example: Ever since he retired, he’s been acting mad as a hatter, talking to imaginary friends.

Bats in the belfry

• Meaning: Behaving strangely or eccentrically; mentally unstable.
• Example: You must have bats in the belfry if you believe that story.

Out of one’s mind

• Meaning: In a state of extreme irrationality or insanity.
• Example: He’s out of his mind if he thinks he can win the race without any training.

Crazy as a loon

• Meaning: Extremely eccentric or mentally unstable.
• Example: She’s been acting crazy as a loon ever since she lost her job.

Off the deep end

• Meaning: To become irrational or mentally unstable; to lose control.
• Example: He went off the deep end when he found out his car had been stolen.

Flying off the handle

• Meaning: Becoming extremely angry or agitated.
• Example: She’s always flying off the handle over the smallest things.

Gone off the deep end

• Meaning: To become irrational or lose control of one’s emotions.
• Example: After losing his job, he’s gone off the deep end and refuses to leave his house.

Lose one’s mind

• Meaning: To become insane or irrational.
• Example: I’m going to lose my mind if this noise doesn’t stop.

Flip one’s lid

• Meaning: To become extremely angry or agitated; to lose control.
• Example: He flipped his lid when he saw the mess in the kitchen.

Wacky

• Meaning: Behaving in a silly or irrational manner; crazy.
• Example: Her wacky ideas always leave us scratching our heads.

Off one’s trolley

• Meaning: Behaving irrationally or in a crazy manner.
• Example: You’re off your trolley if you think I’m going to lend you money again.

Out of one’s tree

• Meaning: Behaving irrationally or in a crazy manner.
• Example: He’s completely out of his tree if he thinks he can finish that project on time.

Crackpot

• Meaning: A person who is eccentric or behaves in an irrational manner.
• Example: Only a crackpot would believe in such conspiracy theories.

Off the rails

• Meaning: Behaving irrationally or in a way that is out of control.
• Example: Ever since the breakup, she’s been completely off the rails.

Nutty as a fruitcake

• Meaning: Completely crazy or eccentric.
• Example: He’s as nutty as a fruitcake if he thinks he can convince them with that argument.

Cuckoo

• Meaning: Crazy or eccentric; derived from the sound of a cuckoo bird.
• Example: He’s a bit cuckoo if he believes he can fly.

Round the bend

• Meaning: Mentally unstable; going crazy.
• Example: Living with them is driving me round the bend!

Bonkers

• Meaning: Crazy or irrational; out of one’s mind.
• Example: He went bonkers when he heard the news.

Lose Your Marbles

• Meaning: To become mentally unstable or irrational; to lose one’s sanity.
• Example: Ever since the accident, he’s been losing his marbles and forgetting things.

Go Off the Deep End

• Meaning: To become extremely upset or irrational; to lose control of one’s emotions.
• Example: She went off the deep end when she found out she had failed her exam.

Gone Bananas/Bonkers

• Meaning: To become crazy or irrational; to behave in an eccentric or unpredictable manner.
• Example: He’s gone bananas trying to organize this event.

Blow Your Top/Stack/Gasket

• Meaning: To become extremely angry or lose one’s temper suddenly.
• Example: When he saw the mess they made, he blew his top.

Flip Your Lid

• Meaning: To become extremely angry or agitated; to lose control of one’s emotions.
• Example: She flipped her lid when she realized she had lost her phone.

Fly Off the Handle

• Meaning: To become suddenly and uncontrollably angry.
• Example: Don’t mention politics around him; he flies off the handle at the slightest provocation.

Be at Your Wits’ End

• Meaning: To be extremely frustrated or desperate; to have exhausted all possible solutions.
• Example: I’m at my wits’ end trying to understand this math problem.

Have Bats in the Belfry

• Meaning: To be eccentric or irrational; to behave in a crazy or peculiar manner.
• Example: You must have bats in the belfry if you believe that story.

Not All There

• Meaning: Not mentally sound or stable; lacking full mental faculties.
• Example: I think he’s not all there if he believes he can do that in one day.

Some idioms might be considered offensive depending on the situation. However, understanding these colorful expressions can add humor and nuance to your communication, especially when describing those moments when logic takes a backseat and emotions run wild.

Download the Word of the day