go berserk

Idioms  

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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

go berserk

On a flat pitch, Marsh and Rickelton added 148 for the first wicket which gave Brook, England's limited-overs captain, the licence to go berserk.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

At a time when the most exciting films were 10 seconds of a train, bored teenagers probably would go berserk at the chance to loiter near an obelisk.

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026

Every four years, soccer fans around the globe go berserk over the World Cup, but in host cities like Los Angeles, the worldwide spectacle feels bittersweet and financially out of reach.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026

Or will she go berserk and blow up the system?

From New York Times ● May 31, 2022

We watched from a spot on the roof, expecting him to go berserk.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

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Related Words

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