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Synonyms

bats

American  
[bats] / bæts /

adjective

Slang.

  1. insane; crazy.

    He's gone bats.
bats British  
/ bæts /

adjective

  1. informal crazy; very eccentric

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bats

First recorded in 1915–20; bat 2, -s 3

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Concerns have been raised over the cost of two houses being built for bats next to junction 10 of the M5.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

That was supposed to be the U.S.—until more than a billion dollars’ worth of bats went oddly quiet.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez stifled the USA bats led by New York Yankees home run king Aaron Judge.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

Paul Skenes versus a lineup so deep Julio Rodriguez bats seventh?

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

The bats in his chest were going nuts.

From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.