method to madness

method to madness

also method in madness

Meaning:

• a purpose in doing something that is seemingly crazy
• there's a reason for someone's strange behavior
• there's a plan behind the odd behavior of a person

Example:

1. You may be thinking that I have gone crazy, but there's a method to my madness.
2. When she's working on her painting, it would seem that she's out of her mind, but when she finishes, you'll see that there's method in her madness.
3. They way the houses were built seemed strange, but when we heard of the natural calamities affecting the region, we realized there was method to the madness.
4. They have a crazy schedule, but taking all things into account, there's a method to their madness.
5. These are turbulent times, but it must come to an end sometime. There must be some method to this madness.
6. They are selling it at a throwaway price, but they have plan to recover their money. There's a method to their madness.
7. He used to live a very disorganized life, but later we realized that there was method in his madness.
8. He keeps talking to himself loudly, but he insists there is a method in his madness.

Origin:
Originated from Shakespeare's Hamlet in 1602.