Idiom: to go off the deep end; used
as a verb
First Example:
Hugh: Hey, did you go shopping
today?
Marty: Yeah, I went to Costco.
Hugh: Did you remember to get toilet
paper?
Marty: Yeah, I got four packages.
Hugh: Cool. Where are they?
Marty: In my car. I need help carrying them up.
Hugh:Why?
Marty: There’s 30 rolls in each pack.
Hugh: Whoa! You didn’t need to go off the deep end!
Marty: You said to get a few packages.
Hugh: Yeah – the ones with like 6 rolls!
Now we have enough toilet paper for years!
Meaning: The idiom “to
go off the deep end” is used when someone does something beyond what
is expected, usually crazy or irrational. In the example above, Marty went off the deep end when he bought 4 large
packages of toilet paper at Costco. The
idiom is also used when someone becomes suddenly angry or upset, as in the next
example:
Chrissie: How did the presentation go with
the bosses?
Pete: Not great. They didn’t really like our idea.
Chrissie: They didn’t like any of it?
Pete: Not really.
Chrissie: I’ve been working on that for a
month! Do you think they’re mad? I hope I don’t get fired!
Pete:
Whoa! Don’t go off the deep end.
They appreciated the work we put into it, but they had some other ideas, and
they want us to work together on a new presentation.
Chrissie: Oh good. Sorry, didn’t mean to panic there.
Meaning: In this example, Chrissie panics because her bosses didn’t
like the project she and Pete had been working on for a month. However, her sudden panic is irrational, and
Pete calms her down by telling her that they want her to work with him on the
new idea.
www.languagesystems.edu
Now we have enough toilet paper for years!
Meaning: The idiom “to
go off the deep end” is used when someone does something beyond what
is expected, usually crazy or irrational. In the example above, Marty went off the deep end when he bought 4 large
packages of toilet paper at Costco. The
idiom is also used when someone becomes suddenly angry or upset, as in the next
example:
Chrissie: How did the presentation go with
the bosses?
Pete: Not great. They didn’t really like our idea.
Chrissie: They didn’t like any of it?
Pete: Not really.
Chrissie: I’ve been working on that for a
month! Do you think they’re mad? I hope I don’t get fired!
Pete:
Whoa! Don’t go off the deep end.
They appreciated the work we put into it, but they had some other ideas, and
they want us to work together on a new presentation.
Chrissie: Oh good. Sorry, didn’t mean to panic there.
Meaning: In this example, Chrissie panics because her bosses didn’t
like the project she and Pete had been working on for a month. However, her sudden panic is irrational, and
Pete calms her down by telling her that they want her to work with him on the
new idea.
www.languagesystems.edu
LSI Team
For over 30 years, Language Systems International has been offering comprehensive exchange experiences, providing high-quality English instruction with a focus on a communicative and student-centered environment. Follow our blog to stay updated on our activities and latest news.
