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Synonyms

go ballistic

Idioms  

  1. Become extremely upset or angry, as in Dad will go ballistic when he sees you dented the new car. This expression, a variation on go berserk, originally alluded to a guided missile going out of control. [Slang; mid-1980s]

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.

"We knew that we had to go ballistic after how they batted. We had to take risks and thankfully they came off," said Bairstow.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2024

Then, it was Hopkins turn to go ballistic on the bench.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 22, 2024

Something small, like a guy blows a horn at me, and man, my insides go ballistic.

From New York Times • Jan. 5, 2022

The anger and resentment come out, which is why so many former child actors go ballistic.

From Fox News • Jun. 11, 2020

Like I said, Mom would go ballistic if she knew the stuff Grandmère did sometimes!

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio

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.