English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Idioms: Madness and Insanity-1
from: 'away with the fairies'
to: 'not in one's right mind'
- away with the fairies
- Someone who is away with the fairies is in such a dreamy state that they are not totally in touch with reality and give the impression of being slightly mad.
"It's no use trying to explain the problem to her - she's away with the fairies!"
- Someone who is away with the fairies is in such a dreamy state that they are not totally in touch with reality and give the impression of being slightly mad.
- go bananas
- If someone becomes very emotional and starts behaving in a crazy way, they go bananas.
"If you announce that you are going to drop out of school, your parents will go bananas!"
- If someone becomes very emotional and starts behaving in a crazy way, they go bananas.
- (a) basket case
- A person whose agitated mental state leaves them helpless or unable to cope with things is called a basket case.
"Jenny will turn into a basket case if this stressful situation continues."
- A person whose agitated mental state leaves them helpless or unable to cope with things is called a basket case.
- (have) bats in the belfry
- If you say that somebody has bats in the belfry, you mean that they are eccentric or crazy.
"He comes up with the craziest ideas - he must have bats in the belfry!"
- If you say that somebody has bats in the belfry, you mean that they are eccentric or crazy.
- have you gone out of your mind?
- If you ask someone if they have gone out of their mind, you think they are crazy, foolish or insane.
"You're going to ask for a 100% increase in salary? Have you gone out of your mind?"
- If you ask someone if they have gone out of their mind, you think they are crazy, foolish or insane.
- the lights are on, but no one is home
- This is a humorous way of referring to someone who is lacking intelligence or sanity, or to someone who is simply preoccupied and not paying attention.
"Forget about Andy today - the lights are on but no one is home!"
- This is a humorous way of referring to someone who is lacking intelligence or sanity, or to someone who is simply preoccupied and not paying attention.
- lose one's marbles
- If someone loses their marbles, they become mentally confused, or no longer behave sensibly or rationally.
"The old man is acting very strangely. He seems to have lost his marbles."
- If someone loses their marbles, they become mentally confused, or no longer behave sensibly or rationally.
- not all there
- Someone who is not all there behaves strangely at times, or seems a bit odd.
"Our new neighbour wears a hat and coat even in summer; he's not all there!"
- Someone who is not all there behaves strangely at times, or seems a bit odd.
- not in one's right mind
- Someone who is not in their right mind is not behaving in a logical or sensible way.
"Julie wasn't in her right mind the day she bought that outfit. It doesn't suit her at all!"
- Someone who is not in their right mind is not behaving in a logical or sensible way.
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