loony bin

loony bin

slang A psychiatric hospital or insane asylum. From a glib adaptation of the word "lunatic," the phrase is now considered tactless at best, extremely insulting at worst. Back in my grandfather's time, anyone suffering from severe depression or anxiety would have just been thrown in the loony bin, so people suffered in silence and in secret. When she joked about putting someone like my brother in the loony bin, I threw my drink in her face and walked out of the restaurant.
See also: bin, loony
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

loony bin

n. an insane asylum; a mental hospital. Today’s loony bins are far different from those of just a few decades ago.
See also: bin, loony
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

loony bin

Insane asylum. The word “lunatic” comes from the word for “moon”; madness was associated in many cultures with the effect of the phases of the moon on the human mind. From lunatic came loony, and loony bin was where insane people were incarcerated. The phrase is now considered insulting in the extreme, as are “booby hatch” (originally a covered passageway down a ship deck), “funny farm,” “drool academy,” and “foam rubber city” (a reference to padded cells).
See also: bin, loony
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • nuttery
  • foundry
  • nut factory
  • nut-foundry
  • nuthatch
  • nuthouse
  • insane
  • drive (one) insane
  • drive somebody insane
  • look up and down
References in periodicals archive
Davidsun's Loony Bin: even the most reluctant reader will become immersed in the whimsical exploits of teachers and students, and will find this to be a compelling page-turner.
Harley P. Davidsun's Loony Bin
The deconstruction that is desperately needed is the deconstruction of political charlatanism, political dishonesty, political audacity and impudence that reign supreme in our political loony bin.
The questions Papadopoulos should be ashamed to ask
I'd been writing for a sketch comedy troupe, and before that doing some "stand-up" comedy at the Loony Bin in Wichita.
The making of a gay Rom Com in Kansas
"I don't know if I am sane or insane, or should be locked up in a loony bin."
I don't know if I am sane or should be in the loony bin; son pleads guilty to killing his mother
It's hard to decide if Cornell is too much of a mother hen or should seriously think about checking himself into the loony bin after hearing his bizarre socio-commentary on the hardships of bird parents raising their chicks, "Bones of Birds." Not only is it bad enough that your have to build a home out or twigs and branches, you have to worry about junior falling out of the nest and drowning to death.
Soundgarden's `Animal' attraction
That was the man's job and I couldn't imagine how anyone could repeat the process of screwing a cap on piece after piece of steel pipe for eight hours and not end up in a loony bin.
The assembly line culture..
"But once she started stalking him, got crazy and went to the loony bin, then experimented with women, I had a great time."
WISTERIA LANE THE MUSICAL; SEXY STAR LEAVES TELLY SERIES BUT
He had not just come out of a loony bin, appeared quite reasonable and gave a few opinions why Steven Gerrard (or Stevie G as we must call him) would be lifting the World Cup on July 11.
Spain look like the real deal; BEST OF THE BLOGS
Knowing it was their last ever chance, the BB bosses have definitely decided to go out with a bang and rounded up the biggest bunch of headcases this side of the loony bin. When the most sensible, sane and reliable person in the house is Vinnie Jones, you know you're in for a bumpy ride.
The Best CELEB SHOW; YOUR TV
It's the sort of economics that should see its perpetrators thrown in the loony bin.
Bad for our culture, bad for our sport... ...so why SHOULD Wales foot bill for London's Games?
Paul has to work alongside Frank when Angela and Benz are held hostage by hideously disfigured crime boss Billy Russoti (Dominic) and his psychotic brother, Loony Bin Jim (Hutchison).
Awash with blood
Simon James is called Woolfy both because he "ended up in a loony bin one time" and because he has hairy legs.
Strange new days: the limitless possibilities of Woolfy
The mystery leads FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Tory) to seek out a literally mad scientist ("Lord of the Rings'" John Noble), who was involved in cutting-edge research before being tossed into the loony bin. Getting to him requires enlisting aid from said scientist's rebellious son Peter (Joshua Jackson), a genius/maverick/gambler/ne'er-do-well who insists on calling Olivia "sweetheart."
Fringe
On his return, he claimed he became withdrawn and depressed, but refused help from his parents because he did not want to go to a "loony bin", instead "selfmedicating" with alcohol.
I'M TO BLAME FOR TRAGEDY
Steve is still the ladies man he always aspired to be, although now wifey Karen is heading for the loony bin his magnetic charms seem to be failing.
McDONALDS WITH RELISH