ENGLISH
REFERENCE

off the deep end

idiom
Meaning

Crazy, erratic, or irrational.


Examples
SIMPLE

He went off the deep end when he lost his job.

CONTEXTUAL

After working sixty hours a week for months, she finally went off the deep end and quit without a plan.

COMPLEX

The sudden pressure of the public scandal caused the previously calm politician to go off the deep end during his live television interview.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all ends up

    Completely; totally.

  2. 02

    arse end of nowhere

    A very remote place.

  3. 03

    big end of town

    The top end of town.

  4. 04

    bitter end

    The end of a long and difficult process.

  5. 05

    burn the candle at both ends

    To work hard night and day; to sleep late and wake up early; to overwork or overexert oneself.

  6. 06

    business end

    The part of an object (chiefly a tool or weapon) that is physically used for its operation, rather than some other part such as the part by which it is held.

  7. 07

    come to a sticky end

    To die unpleasantly due to one's actions.

  8. 08

    come to an end

    To stop; to cease; to no longer continue.

Last updated April 17, 2026