1 not used before a noun, chiefly US, informal : very angry
▪ If you keep teasing that dog, you'll make/get him mad. ▪ She's mad at me. = (less commonly) She's mad with me. ▪ What are you so mad about? ▪ That guy makes me so mad! ▪ She was mad at me for being late. = She was mad that I was late. = She was mad about my being late. ▪ She was hopping mad. [=extremely angry] — see also fighting mad at 1fight 2 a : having or showing severe mental illness : insane
▪ (chiefly Brit) The man in the park was clearly mad. ▪ a movie about a mad scientist ▪ He was stark raving mad. [=completely insane] = (Brit) He was barking mad.
b : unable to think in a clear or sensible way
▪ He was mad [=insane] with jealousy/anger. ▪ (chiefly Brit) They must have been mad [=crazy] to buy that house. ▪ a power-mad prosecutor
c : very foolish
▪ (chiefly Brit) He made a mad decision to drive home in the storm. 3 chiefly Brit, informal : liking someone or something very much : very fond of or enthusiastic about someone or something
▪ She's mad for a cute boy in her class. ▪ He's mad keen on sailing. — often + about ▪ She's mad [=wild] about dancing. ▪ He's mad [=crazy] about her. 4 always used before a noun : wild and uncontrolled
▪ There was a mad [=frantic] rush when the store opened. ▪ a mad scramble
▪ If you keep teasing that dog, you'll make/get him mad. ▪ She's mad at me. = (less commonly) She's mad with me. ▪ What are you so mad about? ▪ That guy makes me so mad! ▪ She was mad at me for being late. = She was mad that I was late. = She was mad about my being late. ▪ She was hopping mad. [=extremely angry] — see also fighting mad at 1fight
▪ (chiefly Brit) The man in the park was clearly mad. ▪ a movie about a mad scientist ▪ He was stark raving mad. [=completely insane] = (Brit) He was barking mad.
b : unable to think in a clear or sensible way
▪ He was mad [=insane] with jealousy/anger. ▪ (chiefly Brit) They must have been mad [=crazy] to buy that house. ▪ a power-mad prosecutor
c : very foolish
▪ (chiefly Brit) He made a mad decision to drive home in the storm.
▪ She's mad for a cute boy in her class. ▪ He's mad keen on sailing. — often + about ▪ She's mad [=wild] about dancing. ▪ He's mad [=crazy] about her.
▪ There was a mad [=frantic] rush when the store opened. ▪ a mad scramble
drive (someone) mad 1 : to cause (someone) to become mentally ill
▪ Years alone in the jungle had driven him mad. 2 : to annoy or bother (someone) very much.
▪ That noise is driving me mad!
▪ Years alone in the jungle had driven him mad.
▪ That noise is driving me mad!
go mad 1 : to become mentally ill
▪ Sometimes I think the whole world has gone mad! ▪ He had gone mad after years alone in the jungle. 2 : to act in a way that is out of control : to act wildly
▪ The crowd went mad [=went crazy] when the team won the championship.
▪ Sometimes I think the whole world has gone mad! ▪ He had gone mad after years alone in the jungle.
▪ The crowd went mad [=went crazy] when the team won the championship.
like mad
informal 1 : with a lot of energy and speed
▪ We've been working like mad [=like crazy] to get done on time. 2 : very quickly
▪ Cars were selling like mad. ▪ He's been spending money like mad. 3 : very much
▪ She started shivering like mad.
▪ We've been working like mad [=like crazy] to get done on time.
▪ Cars were selling like mad. ▪ He's been spending money like mad.
▪ She started shivering like mad.
mad as a hatter — see hatter







