go postal

go postal

1. slang To shoot or otherwise attack one's coworkers (and/or random people) in a rage, typically after becoming disgruntled in one's workplace. The phrase originated after a series of unrelated incidents in the 1980s and '90s in which American postal workers shot coworkers or members of the public. You've got to watch out for the quiet types—they're the ones who end up going postal and shooting up the place.
2. slang By extension, to become wildly or uncontrollably angry. He wasn't happy with me and went postal when he heard what I had to say.
See also: go, postal
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

go postal

mainly AMERICAN, INFORMAL
If someone goes postal, they become extremely angry and lose control of themselves. He went postal and punched a police officer in the face. Compare with go ballistic. Note: This expression comes from a series of shootings carried out by US postal workers.
See also: go, postal
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

go postal

go mad, especially from stress. US informal
This expression arose as a result of several recorded cases in the USA in which postal-service employees ran amok and shot colleagues.
1999 New Yorker A man two seats away ‘went postal’ when the battery on his cell phone gave out. A heavyset passenger had to sit on the man until the train finally pulled into Grand Central.
See also: go, postal
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

go ˈpostal

(American English, informal) become extremely angry or start behaving in a violent and angry way: According to one eye witness, the man ‘went postal, and started hitting his computer’.This expression originated in the USA in the 1990s, where there were several incidents of postal workers losing control and shooting members of the public in post offices.
See also: go, postal
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

go postal

in. to become wild; to go berserk. He made me so mad I thought I would go postal.
See also: go, postal
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

go postal

Slang To become extremely angry or deranged, especially in an outburst of violence.
See also: go, postal
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • (one's) day in court
  • (there's) no peace/rest for the wicked
  • (one's) jig is up
  • (from) top to toe
  • at (one's) doorstep
  • at doorstep
  • a/(one's) 20
  • at somebody's expense
  • at someone's expense
  • at (one's) expense
References in periodicals archive
Pearson's extensive plot summary (119-22) of the Left Hand of Darkness caused me to go postal. She at once absolutely unnecessarily tells readers what ensues between Le Guin's protagonists and fails to make the needed connection between her discussion of "gender essentialism" (113) and Judith Butler's work on the subject.
Veronica Hollinger and Joan Gordon, eds. Edging into the Future: Science Fiction and Contemporary Cultural Transformation
Among his opinions, Bauer said that at one public meeting "no decent person could resist the urge to go postal," described a fantasy funeral for one of the trustees in which other trustees and Mathur are also killed, and illustrated an article on downsizing with three people assembling a gun.
Judicial Decisions. (Legal Reporter)
"What's so funny?" asked the publisher, incredulously, perhaps wary that I was, indeed, about to go postal. "Oh, nothing," I said, still giggling.
The Last Layoff Story
Petersburg, Fla., didn't "go postal" after being ordered to cut her inch-long fingernails.
Nail Carrier
Despite the commonly held belief that the quietest people are the most likely to "go postal," 85 percent of those who perpetrate violent acts in the workplace exhibited clear warning signs.
Businesses Unprepared for Workplace Violence
|8 A postage stamp boasting the likeness of Queen's deceased lead singer Freddie Mercury--and approved by the queen--causes conservatives to go postal in the United Kingdom.
1999's 25 WILDEST, WEIRDEST, AND WINNINGEST MOMENTS IN ENTERTAINMENT
Some people assume it is something I had in the past and that I am "better." Some worry that I might "go postal," and they treat me with kid gloves.
DISABILITY DEFINED
In addition to Britain, many other countries, particularly those within the Commonwealth, will be anxious to issue their own stamps and with only three months to go postal administrations, stamp designers and security printing firms are now working flat out to get the stamps out on time.
Putting stamp on a royal occasion; ANTIQUES
If I had to work with people like these, he concludes, I think I'd go postal.
The Godfather's vendetta
I had heard that when you get fired, you have to leave on the spot, lest you go postal. I just felt badly for the pastry floater who would have to close on his own.
Edible complex
"We haven't had anybody go postal up here in a long time," Hampton said.
Replacements sent for alphabetically absent ballots
The student's teachers had also expressed concern about his violent writings and his odd behavior in the classroom, and classmates reportedly joked he may "go postal."
Counselors dealing with violent signals face a difficult task; Decision to release Va. shooter proves costly
But you can go postal and shoot your way through the entire affair as before.
The Razz: Game review: Top of the chops; Agent 47 locks and loads with a kill bill, Vol 3 HITMAN:CONTRACTS HHHHI
But just because words like nimrod, go postal and wannabe are now fair game, we doubt they'll turn up on your next vocab quiz.
Have you heard the word? (Short Stuff)
Under fictitious bylines, his articles in 1998 included a suggestion that "a two-ton slate of polished granite" be dropped on the head of President Raghu Mathur, an urge to "go postal" at a trustees' meeting, a fantasy description of a trustee's funeral and an illustration of Mathur beheading people on his "enemies list."
Maverick Irvine Valley Professor Wins First-Amendment Case