horn-mad
Definition
- Adjective:
- Extremely angry: "horn-mad" describes a state of intense fury or rage, often to the point of irrationality.
- Jealous to the point of madness: In archaic usage, it specifically refers to a person driven mad by jealousy, particularly due to infidelity (being "cuckolded").
Usage Examples
- (He was extremely angry about the damage.)
- (Driven to rage by jealousy over infidelity.)
Advanced Usage
"to be horn-mad with rage": to be consumed by uncontrollable anger.
- She was horn-mad with rage after the unfair accusation. (She was filled with intense, unreasonable fury.)
"to go horn-mad": to become violently or irrationally angry.
- He went horn-mad when he lost the game. (He became extremely upset and lost his temper.)
Variants and Related Words
- Horn (n): a hard, pointed growth on the head of animals like cattle; also a symbol of a cuckold (a man whose wife is unfaithful).
- Mad (adj): mentally disturbed; very angry.
Synonyms
- Furious: extremely angry.
- Incensed: very angry, as if provoked by something offensive.
- Livid: furiously angry.
Related Idioms
- To see red: to become very angry.
- He saw red when he heard the insult. (He became extremely angry.)
- To be beside oneself with anger: to be so angry that one cannot control oneself.
- She was beside herself with anger after the betrayal. (She was horn-mad with rage.)