English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
As mad as a hatter
Meaning
The idiom "as mad as a hatter" is used to describe someone who is extremely angry, furious, or insane. It means that the person has lost their mind and is behaving in an irrational way. The figurative meaning of the idiom is often used to exaggerate how angry or mad someone is.
Usage
- John was so angry after losing the game that he became as mad as a hatter.
- She was as mad as a hatter when she found out her boss had given her colleague a promotion instead of her.
- The politician's rant during the debate made the audience feel like they were listening to a mad hatter.
- After the breakup, he became so depressed that he acted as mad as a hatter.
- The patient was as mad as a hatter when he tried to escape from the hospital. The usage of the idiom "as mad as a hatter" can vary depending on the context. It can be used to describe someone who is extremely angry, furious, or insane, and its figurative meaning is often used to exaggerate how angry or mad someone is.
Roots and History
The idiom "as mad as a hatter" has been in use since at least the 16th century. The earliest known usage of the phrase can be found in the book "John Heywood's A Dialogue Conteinyng the Nomber in Effect of All the Prouerbes in the Englishe Tongue" published in 1546. In the book, Heywood writes:
"Mad as a hatter: that is so sottish that he doth not know his own syde from one syde of the worlde." The phrase has since been used in various forms and variations, with some using different names for the mad character. For example, in Lewis Carroll's book "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," the Mad Hatter is a popular character known for his eccentric behavior and insane actions.
Synonyms in English
- Furious
- Insane
- Crazy
- Enraged
- Livid
Synonyms in other languages
- French: Folle (Crazy)
- Spanish: Loca (Crazy)
- German: Geisteskrank (Insane)
- Italian: Pazzo (Crazy)
- Portuguese: Louco/Louca (Crazy/Insane)