go ape

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To become wildly excited or enthusiastic.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To become very angry.

Register: slang

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “go ape” mean?

To become wildly excited or enthusiastic.

Is “go ape” formal or informal?

go ape is generally slang.