around the bend
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective (Informal/Slang):
- Mentally irregular; crazy; insane: Used to describe someone whose behavior or thinking is considered very strange, irrational, or outside normal social bounds. It implies a state of madness or eccentricity.
Usage
- This term is informal and often considered slang. It can be humorous, derogatory, or descriptive depending on context and tone.
- It is typically used as a predicate adjective (following a linking verb like , , ).
- It describes a person's perceived mental state or behavior.
Examples
- Adjective:
- After working 100 hours a week for a month, I thought I was going around the bend.
- His new conspiracy theory makes him sound completely around the bend.
- "Don't listen to him; he's around the bend," she whispered.
Advanced Usage
- "to drive someone around the bend": To cause someone to become extremely annoyed, frustrated, or crazy.
- The constant noise from the construction site is driving me around the bend.
Variants and Related Words
- Round the bend: A common variant with identical meaning.
- He's gone completely round the bend.
- Bendy (adj): Informal for flexible; not related to the mental state meaning.
- Bender (n): Slang for a period of heavy drinking.
Synonyms
- Crazy
- Insane
- Mad
- Balmy (as in the reference example)
- Bonkers
- Loony
Antonyms
- Sane
- Rational
- Lucid
- Same-minded
Related Idioms
- Around the twist: A very similar British slang idiom meaning crazy.
- This puzzle is sending me around the twist!
- Off one's rocker: Another informal idiom for being crazy.
- Out to lunch: Slang for being out of touch with reality or not thinking clearly.
Adjective
- informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
- it used to drive my husband balmy