go off the deep end


go off the deep end

1. Literally, to jump into the deep end of a pool (as opposed to the shallow end). Don't let Sally go off the deep end—she doesn’t know how to swim.2. slang To become crazy or irrational. A; "Now your father thinks the neighbors are plotting against him." B: "Wow, he's really gone off the deep end!" Whoa, man, stop yelling! I only put a tiny scratch on your car, so there's no need to go off the deep end.See also: deep, end, go, off

go off the deep end

 and jump off the deep end 1. Lit. to jump into a swimming pool where the water is over one's head and one needs to be able to swim You are still only learning to swim. Are you ready to go off the deep end? He jumped off the deep end where he would make a bigger splash. 2. Fig. to become deeply involved (with someone or something) before one is ready. (Applies especially to falling in love.) Look at the way Bill is looking at Sally. I think he's about to go off the deep end. 3. Fig. to act irrationally, following one's emotions or fantasies. Now, John, I know you really want to go to Australia, but don't go jumping off the deep end. It isn't all perfect there.See also: deep, end, go, off

go off the deep end

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. See also: deep, end, go, off

go off the deep end

mainly AMERICAN1. If someone goes off the deep end, they start to behave in a crazy or very extreme way. Ray gives a chilling performance as the seemingly nice cop who goes off the deep end and starts terrorising a couple. At first they thought that I'd gone off the deep end and had lost my mind.2. If someone goes off the deep end, they become very angry. My dad went off the deep end when he found out what I'd done. Note: The deep end is the end of a swimming pool where the water is deepest. See also: deep, end, go, off

go off (or go in off) the deep end

give way immediately to anger or emotion. informal This expression refers to the deep end of a swimming pool, where the diving board is located. In the USA the phrase has also developed the meaning ‘go mad’, but in either sense the underlying idea is of a sudden explosive loss of self-control.See also: deep, end, go, off

go off the ˈdeep end

(informal) suddenly become very angry or emotional: Don’t tell your father that you lost the money — he’ll just go off the deep end.See also: deep, end, go, off

go off the deep end

in. to do or experience something in the extreme: to fall madly in love, to go crazy, to commit suicide, to fly into a rage, etc. I saw what he had done, and I just went off the deep end. I was in a blind rage and didn’t know what I was doing. See also: deep, end, go, off