as mad as a hatter

as mad as a hatter

Meaning | Synonyms

• it refers to someone being completely crazy
• someone who can't be understood by the general folk and is considered mad

Originally this phrase also referred to someone being annoyed but in the current times it is used to refer to someone as crazy.

Example Sentences

1. The way he dressed for the event, he must be as mad as a hatter.
2. My boss becomes as mad as a hatter when the work is not completed correctly and submitted on time.
3. The assignment that the student completed was so bad that the teacher got as mad as a hatter.
4. The doctor was as mad as a hatter seeing that the patient had not adhered to the strict diet that he was to follow.
5. I've just spent a week studying with Ross and finally realized that she is mad as a hatter.

Origin

Mercury poisoning is also popularly known as the mad hatter's disease. In the late 17^th and early 18^th century, mercury nitrate was used as a component in making hats. The result of which was that the person would start trembling and sometimes resembled as insane. Too much exposure to mercury caused anti-social behaviour, aggressiveness and mood swings, all of which were noted within the people that wore hats during the time.

The phrase has been popularly recorded in several books published in the 18^th century.