go off the deep end

Cultural  

1. To act recklessly or hysterically: “The students were behaving themselves at the party, but then a couple of kids started to go off the deep end.”

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go off the deep end Idioms  

1. Become unduly excited, overwrought, or angry. For example, When he heard about John's smashing into his car, he went off the deep end . [c. 1920] Also see in deep , def. 2.

2. Be irrationally carried away, act irresponsibly or heedlessly. For example, Just because you like her looks doesn't mean you should go off the deep end and propose . [c. 1920] In both of these colloquial usages deep end alludes to the deep end of a swimming pool.

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Example Sentences

“Moving to Scottsdale in 2008 I think saved my life,” he said, “And ... I’m 38, I’ve still never had a sip of alcohol, I’ve never done drugs, I’ve never, done anything — so I don’t mean in that sense of like ‘Oh, I’m gonna go off the deep end like so many child actors do.”

From Los Angeles Times

“People have problems, but you don’t expect them to go off the deep end like that,” Letarte said.

From Washington Times

Her untimely death prompts a heartbroken Padraic to go off the deep end.

From Washington Post

“It’s no f---ing wonder people go off the deep end. It’s no f---ing wonder people shave their head and get tattoos on their face or pee in buckets,” she said.

From Washington Post

“What it’s taught me is that you don’t go into a parking lot, ever, at night. You don’t go to the bathroom in a movie theater. And anybody could go off the deep end.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• freak out
• go off
• lose it