go ape, to
go ape
1. slang To become wildly or uncontrollably angry. My parents went totally ape when they found out I'd wrecked the car! Now, don't go ape or anything, but I've decided to move to Canada.
2. slang To become extremely excited or enthusiastic (about something). I've never understood that pop star's popularity, but kids just go ape over her music.
See also: ape, go
go bananas
1. To become irrational or crazy. I'll end up going bananas if I have to work in this cubicle for one more day!
2. To express great excitement about something in an exuberant manner. The kids are going to go bananas when we tell them about the trip.
See also: bananas, go
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
go ape (over someone or something)
Sl. to become very excited over something. I just go ape over chocolate. Sam went ape over Mary.
See also: ape, go
go bananas
Sl. to go mildly crazy. Sorry, I just went bananas for a minute. I thought he was going to go bananas.
See also: bananas, go
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
go ape
Become wildly excited or enthusiastic. For example, The audience went ape over the band. This idiom is a modern version of the older go berserk. It fancifully equates frenzy with an ape's behavior. [Second half of 1900s] Also see go bananas.
See also: ape, go
go bananas
Act crazy, as in When it comes to animal rights, some people go bananas. According to the lexicographer J. E. Lighter, this expression may allude to the similar go ape, in that apes and other primates are closely associated with eating bananas. [Slang; second half of 1900s]
See also: bananas, go
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
go ape
INFORMALIf someone goes ape, they start to behave in an uncontrolled way, usually because they are very excited or very angry. The crowd went ape. Is he never tempted to break away, to go ape for a period? Note: You can also say that someone goes ape crazy. You don't get the chance to go ape crazy. Note: You can also say that someone goes apeshit. If we mentioned her ex-husband, she would literally go apeshit. Note: People who behave in a violent or uncontrolled way are being compared with apes.
See also: ape, go
go bananas
INFORMALIf someone goes bananas, they become very angry, upset or excited. I tried to ask about Jack. She went bananas. She sobbed and howled. The audience went bananas — anything for a bit of excitement.
See also: bananas, go
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
go ape
go wild; become violently excited. informalOriginally mid 20th-century North American slang, this expression possibly refers to the 1933 movie King Kong, which stars a giant ape-like monster.
See also: ape, go
go bananas
1 become extremely angry or excited. 2 go mad. informal 1 1992 Jim Lehrer A Bus of My Own I predicted John Erlichman would probably go bananas when he testified the next day.
See also: bananas, go
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
go ˈape
(also go ˈapeshit taboo) (slang, especially American English) become extremely angry or excited: The manager went ape when the team lost yet another game.See also: ape, go
go baˈnanas
(slang) become angry, crazy or silly: If I’m late again my Dad’ll go bananas. The clock’s going bananas (= isn’t working correctly).See also: bananas, go
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
go ape
verbSee go ape over someone/something
See also: ape, go
go bananas
in. to go mildly crazy. (see also bananas.) I thought he was going to go bananas.
See also: bananas, go
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
go ape
Informal To become wildly excited or angry: went ape at the party; went ape when she saw the parking ticket.
See also: ape, go
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
go ape, to
To act frenzied with delight, fury, or some other strong emotion. Why such behavior should be described as apelike is not known. The slangy term dates from about 1950 and is used in such contexts as “The audience went ape over the new jazz combo,” or “The school board goes ape over the very mention of budget cuts.” A related and possibly derivative cliché is to go bananas, with roughly the same meaning. It dates from the 1960s. The National Public Radio show All Things Considered had it: “When you mention the word ‘nuclear,’ people start to go bananas” (April 13, 1983). See also go ballistic.
See also: go
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- go ape
- go ape over (someone or something)
- go ape over someone/something
- go apeshit
- go bitchcakes
- apeshit
- go apeshit over (something)
- go apeshit over someone/something
- go ballistic
- postal