go berserk

go berserk

To go crazy, especially in anger. The phrase, and the word "berserk" itself, is related to a group of Norse warriors called "berserkers," who were known for being violently frenzied in battle. Mom will go berserk if she catches you sneaking out after curfew again.
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Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

go berserk

to go crazy. She went berserk and strangled her cat.
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McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

go berserk

Erupt in furious rage, become crazily violent. For example, When they announced the gymnast's score, her coach went berserk. This expression is believed to allude to the name of Norse warriors renowned for their ferocity in battle and for wearing no armor but a bearskin shirt (or berserkar). [Late 1800s] Also see go ape.
See also: go
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • and the rest
  • zerk out
  • zerked out
  • all for one, and one for all
  • one for all, (and) all for one
  • (as) sure as eggs (is eggs)
  • a penny for them
  • great minds
  • great minds think alike
  • a word to the wise
References in periodicals archive
How did it go berserk? He did after listening to constant lies)," Rahul said, at a public meeting in Gujarat's Kheda.
I remember how we used to swing you, pendulum-like, toward each other, and how instead of slamming into your sis in mid-air you both cackled: G with that chuckle gone berserk; J, who doesn't require aviating the air via her father's arms to go berserk going berserk.
GO BERSERK: Parracho, left, had to be dragged off Wilson ANNOYING: Go Compare man
WON'T GIVE IN WHEN I've got a full on cold I refuse to put my life on hold I battle on through the working day Then at night in my bed I lay Re-energised for the next day at work If I stayed home I'd go berserk So must keep ploughing on the best I can With Lockets and Lucozade close to hand I shut myself away, so no germs I spread I'd rather be at work than in my bed I'm a conscientious lad you see On top of my work with aid of a hankie When the weekend's here I'll ease up Lots of rest and Lemsip cup On Monday I'm sure I'll be fine For the start of the week, the daily grind STEVEN HOOKWAY, via email.
Sponsor Senator Chris Buttars said, "Whenever anyone challenges the evolution people, they go berserk." He pointed out that evolution "is not a fact."
And why do the computers at the Global Consciousness Project suddenly seem to go berserk?
As fluent with their bodies as with language, they sing, sort papers, go berserk, and snap to attention when buzzers go off, signaling the need to receive of send messages.
Each day for the last two weeks Lewis has encouraged his sparring partners to lose their cool and go berserk during daily sessions.
Paul, 47, and wife Sarah, 44, have seen sales of their Lucy Locket costumes "go berserk" as Pottermania grips Irish youngsters.
But if you multiply the errors so far by nine (the total number of chapters in Everything for Sale), you can see why, in its own way, Kuttner's book offers a breathtaking demonstration of why economists go berserk when civilians venture onto their turf.
"There are times'" says Walker, "when the volcanoes just go berserk," spewing hot lava and gases from Earth's interior into the sea.
IF I'D held a lunchtime party, then proceeded to go berserk with a loaded shotgun, threaten guests with a knife, slash the tyres of cars which carried frightened and crying children, and taken the butt of a rifle to an expensive Alfa Romeo I would reasonably expect, when I landed in court on charges of affray and criminal damage, to be subject to some serious punishment.