Run amok (amuck)

Meaning

The idiom "run amok" means to go out of control, behave wildly or erratically, or act in a violent or chaotic manner. It can also refer to something that is out of hand or causing trouble. The word "amok" comes from the 19th century Malayan word "amok," which means "rampage" or "become mad."

Usage

• After the unexpected news about his job, John suddenly got angry and started yelling at everyone in the office. He was completely out of control and had clearly run amok.
• The crowd went wild during the concert, with people jumping up and down and singing along to every song. It was clear that the band had run amok.
• When he found out that his wife had cheated on him, John broke into a rage and started throwing things around the house. He had completely lost control and was running amok.
• The riot at the festival was unexpected but quickly grew out of hand as people began to throw bottles and rocks at each other. It was clear that something had gone wrong and everyone had run amok.
• When she found out that her boss had given her coworker a promotion over her, Rachel felt angry and betrayed. She stormed into his office and started yelling at him, completely running amok.

Roots and History

The idiom "run amok" originated in the late 19th century from the Malayan word "amok," which means "rampage" or "become mad." The word was first used in English in the 1860s to describe a group of soldiers who had gone out of control and started attacking civilians during a riot in Calcutta, India. Over time, the idiom has come to be used more broadly to describe any situation or person that is behaving erratically or violently.

Synonyms in English

• Going off the rails
• Losing control
• Acting out of character
• Becoming unhinged
• Going wild

Synonyms in other languages

• Español: Entrar en cólera o irse de los sentidos (Becoming enraged or losing one's senses)
• Français: Éclater en colère ou se démadiner (To burst into anger or become drunk)
• German: Zugespitzt oder auf die Nerven kommen (To become stressed or agitated)
• Italian: Rampare o perdere il controllo (To rage or lose control)
• Japanese: 極れる (To reach a breaking point)

Similar Idioms

• run across

• ring a bell

• rank and file