method

(a) method in (one's) madness

A specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may appear crazy or absurd to another person. The phrase originated in Shakespeare's Hamlet: "Though this be madness, yet there is method in it." You may have method in your madness, but these radical changes to the business could still prove catastrophic. I know you don't understand my motivation for this decision, but after the dust settles you'll see that there is a method in my madness.
See also: madness, method

(a) method to (one's) madness

A specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may appear crazy or absurd to another person. The phrase originated in Shakespeare's Hamlet: "Though this be madness, yet there is method in it." You may have method to your madness, but these radical changes to the business could still prove catastrophic. I know you don't understand my motivation for this decision, but after the dust settles you'll see that there is a method to my madness.
See also: madness, method

have (a) method in (one's) madness

To have a specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may seem crazy or absurd to another person. I know you don't understand my motivation for this decision, but after the dust settles, you'll see that I have a method in my madness. You may have method in your madness, but these radical changes to the business could still prove catastrophic.
See also: have, madness, method

have (a) method to (one's) madness

To have a specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may seem crazy or absurd to another person. I know you don't understand my motivation for this decision, but after the dust settles, you'll see that I have a method to my madness. You may have method to your madness, but these radical changes to the business could still prove catastrophic.
See also: have, madness, method

method in (one's) madness

A specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may seem crazy or absurd to another person. Originated in Shakespeare's Hamlet: "Though this be madness, yet there is method in it." He may seem scattered and disorganized, but I guarantee there's a method in his madness.
See also: madness, method

My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming Planets

A mnemonic device for remembering the names of the eight planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, as well as the dwarf planet Pluto. (The phrase was in use before Pluto had ceased to be considered a true planet.) A: "Let's see, there's Mercury, um… Earth, Mars… Uranus… dang, I can never remember all the planets' names!" B: "Well, try to remember this—My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming Planets." A: "Hey, Pluto isn't a planet anymore!"
See also: easy, just, method, Name, Planet, Speed, up, very

there is (a) method in (one's) madness

There is a specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may seem crazy or absurd to another person. I know you don't understand my motivation for this decision, but after the dust settles you'll see that there is a method in my madness. You may have method in your madness, but these radical changes to the business could still prove catastrophic.
See also: madness, method, there

there is (a) method to (one's) madness

There is a specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may seem crazy or absurd to another person. I know you don't understand my motivation for this decision, but after the dust settles, you'll see that there is a method to my madness. There may be method to your madness, but these radical changes to the business could still prove catastrophic.
See also: madness, method, there
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*method in one's madness

Fig. a purpose in what one is doing, even though it seems to be crazy. (*Typically: be ~; have ~.) What I'm doing may look strange, but there is method in my madness. Wait until she finishes; then you'll see that she has method in her madness.
See also: madness, method
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

method in one's madness

An underlying purpose in crazy behavior, as in Harry takes seemingly random trips around the country but there's method to his madness-he's checking on real estate values . This expression comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet (2:2): "Though this be madness, yet there is method in it." For a modern equivalent, see crazy like a fox.
See also: madness, method
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

there is method in someone's madness

If you say there is method in someone's madness, you mean that although what they do seems strange, they have a good reason for doing it. Of course, there's method in her madness because an empty fridge means I have to take her out to dinner. Note: People also say there is method in the madness. This sounds like pointless technology, but there is method in the madness.
See also: madness, method, there
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

there is method in someone's madness

there is a sensible foundation for what appears to be foolish or strange behaviour.
This expression comes from the scene in Hamlet in which Hamlet feigns madness, causing Polonius to remark: ‘Though this be madness, yet there is method in't’.
See also: madness, method, there
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

there’s ˌmethod in somebody’s ˈmadness

there is a reason for your behaviour and it is not as strange or as stupid as it seems: ‘Why do you always read your newspaper backwards?’ ‘Ah, there’s method in my madness — the back pages are where the sport is.’This comes from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet: ‘Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t (= in it).’
See also: madness, method
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

method in one's madness, there is

There is an underlying purpose in crazy behavior. Shakespeare was hardly the first person to make this observation, but his statement of it in Hamlet (2.2) gave rise to the modern locution (“Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t”). It was probably already a cliché by the time G. K. Chesterton played on it (The Fad of the Fisherman, 1922): “There nearly always is method in madness. It’s what drives men mad, being methodical!”
See also: method, there
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer

method to one's madness

Do things in an unorthodox fashion, yet nevertheless achieve the intended result. Yet again Shakespeare's Hamlet provided a phrase that was picked up and used through the ages. Having observed Hamlet rave on in what appeared to be senseless sentences, Polonious makes a comment that turns out to be true: “Though this be madness, yet there is method in't.” Under less dramatic circumstances, the phrase applies to getting the right outcome by what seems to be the wrong method, and we've all done that.
See also: madness, method
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • madness
  • method in (one's) madness
  • method in madness
  • method in one's madness
  • method to one's madness
  • (a) method in (one's) madness
  • (a) method to (one's) madness
  • have (a) method to (one's) madness
  • there is (a) method in (one's) madness
  • there is method in someone's madness
References in periodicals archive
(34) However, the study was conducted among a population of women who were already using highly effective contraceptives, and most of the women were in long-term relationships; therefore, the sample was unlikely to perceive the need for a woman-initiated barrier method, We agree with the researchers that means of protection against both pregnancy and STDs should be integrated into existing family planning programs to avoid stigmatizing the methods as disease prophylactics.
The future of the female condom
This method allows taxpayers to use one or more of the indexes provided in Rev.
Safe-harbor methods for claiming casualty and theft losses from 2005 gulf hurricanes
No practical tape backup method exists for message level recovery.
Traditional backup software is no match for Exchange
I suggest that this article was a "wake-up" call, challenging our field to adopt new research methods that would allow us to learn more about our clients than about, for example, the number of items circulated.
Introduction
The LIFO accounting method for inventories was first permitted in the Revenue Act of 1938 and was quickly extended to all taxpayers in the Internal Revenue Code of 1939.
TEI urges retention of the LIFO inventory method
All individual TIPs or Test Methods are available for electronic or paper delivery.
New or revised Technical Information Papers (TIPs) and Test Methods
Although not formally validated by external scientific organizations (e.g., ECVAM) for the overall evaluation of eye irritation, the usefulness of some of these in vitro methods is well established for specific and limited purposes within some regulatory agencies and within industry.
Alternatives to toxicity testing in animals: challenges and opportunities
Though the cash surrender value method is easy to apply, its economic soundness is subject to criticism for two primary reasons.
A gap in insurance GAAP? New life insurance markets demand new accounting method
The ConCarb method involves a sample preparation, where a sample cylinder of 2.5 centimeters in diameter by 1.25 centimeters was molded in a curing press.
Dispersion measurements using video techniques
* A second method involved removal of the posterior canal bone and resection of a segment of the facial nerve.
A new method of studying the anatomy of the posterior tympanum
This one-time opportunity to change the safe-harbor method can avoid the premature depletion of an account that has dropped in value because of market conditions from the time that the individual (pre-age 59 1/2) began receiving distributions under a safe-harbor method requiring fixed payments regardless of changes in the account's value.
Combating the market: no penalty for reduced retirement distributions. (Federal Tax)
Ovulation Method clinics are available in Ontario at Toronto, Mississauga, Pickering and Oshawa, and personal instruction by appointment in Barrie, Burlington and Orillia; they are also widely available throughout Canada.
Lay movements XIII: The Natural Family Planning Association: a family affair
The method addresses a major need of polymer producers and users for rapid and reliable methods of measuring the molecular mass distribution of polymers.
New method to measure mass distribution of polyolefins. (News Briefs)
The Human Capitalization Value method is very simple.
A Different Approach. (Life/Health)
High-tech companies also point to the perceived deficiencies in the way that purchase method accounts for intangible assets.
Controversy Delays Rule on Pooling Yet Again