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The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms » go off the deep end
go off the deep end
go off the deep end idiom
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Become unduly excited, overwrought, or angry. For example, When he heard about John's smashing into his car, he went off the deep end. [c. 1920] Also see in deep, def. 2.
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Be irrationally carried away, act irresponsibly or heedlessly. For example, Just because you like her looks doesn't mean you should go off the deep end and propose. [c. 1920] In both of these colloquial usages deep end alludes to the deep end of a swimming pool.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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