Idiom
barking mad
Meanings
Completely crazy or behaving in an extremely strange or unreasonable way.
Definition
Completely crazy or behaving in a very strange way.
"Barking mad" is a British idiom meaning someone is completely crazy or acting in a very strange, unreasonable way. It is usually informal and often humorous or critical. People use it to react strongly to an idea, plan, or behaviour they think makes no sense.
Examples
- You must be barking mad to go swimming in the sea in December.
- Everyone thought he was barking mad when he quit his job without a plan.
- If she thinks I’m paying that much for a used bike, she’s barking mad.
- They were barking mad to try to finish the whole project in one night.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use it to mean "very angry," but it means "crazy/very irrational," not "furious."
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idiom (adjective phrase)s
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
- chuffed to bits Very pleased and proud about something.
- easy as pie Used to say that something is very easy to do or understand.
- right as rain Completely well again, or in perfect condition.
- thick as two short planks Extremely stupid or slow to understand.