barking mad

American  

[bahr-king mad] / ˈbɑr kɪŋ ˈmæd /

Also barking

adjective

British and Australian Informal.

1. thoroughly insane; crazy.

   Whoever dreamed up this nonsensical storyline was barking mad.

   Not put off by this frankly barking mad conversation, I agreed to hear more about his idea over lunch.

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Etymology

Origin of barking mad

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

barking mad

How could such a high official in the United States sound so barking mad?

From Washington Post ● Nov. 19, 2021

Reggie is the supposedly more rational one, although without glasses, and Ronnie is barking mad, with glasses, and a tiny bit more weight.

From The Guardian ● May 14, 2020

Live chickens cluck down the block, and the neighbor’s pit bull drives me barking mad.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 13, 2019

Perhaps your dog is barking mad because a climactic battle between the forces of good and evil breaks out whenever he tries to get some sleep.

From Slate ● May 16, 2019

“If it hadn’t been for this place, I’d have run barking mad years ago,” the bodyguard said.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer