mad

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

Inflamed with anger; very angry; vexed. 'I was quite mad at him;' 'he made me mad.' In these instances mad is only a metaphor for angry. This is perhaps an English vulgarism, but it is not found in any accurate writer, nor used by any good speaker, unless when poets or orators use it as a strong figure, and to heighten the expression, say, 'he was mad with rage.'--Witherspoon, Druid. No.5.


Mad, in the sense of angry, is considered as a low word in this country, and at the present day is never used except in very familiar conversation.--Pickering.

This use of the word is provincial in various parts of England. See Halliwell, Grose, etc.

Indeed, my dear, you make me mad sometimes, you do.--Spectator.

The General began to get in a passion--and says he, "Major, I'm gettin' mad!" "Very well," says I, "General, then I'll keep cool accordin' to agreement."--Maj. Downing's Letters, p. 20.

Up stairs I went with them, as mad as thunder, I tell you, at being thought a humbug.--Field, Western Tales.

Jeeminy, fellows, I was so enormous mad that the new silk handkercher round my neck lost its color!--Robb, Squatter Life.

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

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