go berserk

1. Erupt in furious rage, become crazily violent. For example, When they announced the gymnast's score, her coach went berserk. This expression is believed to allude to the name of Norse warriors renowned for their ferocity in battle and for wearing no armor but a bearskin shirt (or berserkar). [Late 1800s] Also see go ape.

Example Sentences

"You'd be surprised," a doctor tells Friedan at one point, "at the number of these happy suburban wives who simply go berserk one night."

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Israel's far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, said a few days ago he wanted Israel to "go berserk" in response to Iran's attack.

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One said the Israelis needed to "go berserk".

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One of them said Israel should "go berserk".

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"People can simply go berserk because they're being treated like dispensable meat which deserves no sympathy. And this attitude is in reality not uncommon," the account calling itself the Grey Zone Philologist said.

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Related Words

• blow up 
• boil over 
• erupt 
• rampage 
• roar 
• seethe 
• tear