What do you think of when someone says “bonkers?” Maybe a clown? Could be. It is actually an adjective and put it together with “go” it falls into the category of an idiomatic phrase. The word originates in Britain and came into use in about 1945.
A few years later it was often used to refer to someone who is drunk or someone who might have got hit in the head and just not quite right. The word started to become popular in the USA in the 1960’s and became a popular term, even making its way into the business world as catchy names of business and restaurants.
Meaning:
Go bonkers is a verb and has two different uses.
1. To go Crazy
Example:
- No knows why, but Mr. Ruff just went bonkers and started chasing the mail man down the street.
2. To get angry
Example:
- My dad is going to go bonkers when he finds out I crashed the car again.
Dialog:
Thelma: Hey Louise. Let’s say we go for a drive tonight.
Louise: Hmm, I am not sure I should. I have to prepare dinner and my husband will go bonkers if it is not ready when he gets home.
Thelma: Ohhcomon. Order him a pizza and lets go out. You sometimes need to have a little fun or you are going to go bonkers.
Louise: Ok. Might be a good idea, I have been bonkered in a while, maybe we can go to that new pub?
Thelma: Ok, as long as we don’t go to Phil’s bar. Last time I was there I went a little bonkers and got into a fight.
Other words you can create: noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc. (ex: mug – mugger)
Flip
Insane
Crazy
Deranged
Related Phrasal Verbs:
Break down
When we sue this term in the context of go bonkers we are saying someone has lost control of their emotions and becomes mentally unwell.
- She had a break down after she went bonkers about her husband left her for another woman.
Go crazy
When we say someone goes crazy it means they become mentally unstable.
- They say she went crazy because her husband would always go bonkers on her about anything.
Blow up
To explode in anger.
- She blew up at her son because he went a little bonkers at the party and drank too much.
Flip out
To become out of control with anger very quickly.
- His girlfriend flipped out on him because he went bonkers for another girl.
Freak out
To yell and scream and become excessively angry.
- My boss freaked out about the numbers and then went bonkers and tried to jump off the building.
Related idioms:
Bug out
We use this phrase in the context of go bonkers, to say that someone is really scared and frightened and they panic.
Go to pieces
When someone goes to pieces, they become crazy and lose control of their emotions.
Go off rocker
This is a phrase to describe someone who becomes crazy.
Schizz out
Is similar to freak out, but often times it is someone who becomes crazy with anger.
Go off the deep end
When someone goes off the deep end, we are saying they have gone insane.
Blow a fuse
To explode with anger.
Go ape
Go ape could mean someone who gets very angry and/or becomes crazy.
Hit the ceiling
When someone hits the ceiling they become very angry.
Synonyms (other ways to say):
Lose self-control.
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