go bananas
Meaning
To become very excited, angry, or crazy; to lose control or overreact.
Origin
US slang from the mid-20th century. “Bananas” was used to mean “crazy,” and “go + adjective/noun” patterns (“go crazy,” “go nuts”) led to “go bananas.”
Notes
Casual spoken idiom. Often means “go crazy” from excitement or anger; can suggest an overreaction. Not very formal.
Examples
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The crowd went bananas when the band walked on stage.
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If I don’t get some coffee soon, I’m going to go bananas.
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My dad went bananas after he found out I dented the car.
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Social media went bananas over the surprise announcement.
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The kids went bananas when they saw the giant chocolate cake.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as “go bananas” with the verb “go” inflected (go/went/going). Often followed by “over/about/when…” (e.g., “went bananas over the news”). Fairly fixed; you don’t normally change “bananas.”
Synonyms
- go crazy
- go nuts
- freak out
- lose it
Antonyms
- keep calm
- stay composed
- remain level-headed