mad as a fish
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Demented, crazy.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Voluble, almost incomprehensible, mad as a fish and perpetually drunk.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “mad as a fish” mean?
Demented, crazy.
Is “mad as a fish” formal or informal?
mad as a fish is generally slang.