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# gone doolally

phrase (adjective phrase: go doolally, goes, went, has gone doolally; UK slang)

«gone doolally» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (slang, informal) gone mad, crazy, or very confused; also very excited or angry.
2. (unkind euphemism, about old people) becoming confused or forgetful.

### In the lessons

Old British army slang (from a place in India where soldiers waited, bored, to go home), now jokey everyday UK and Irish talk. Can be hurtful if used about people with real mental illness or dementia.

### Examples

- The dog went doolally when it saw the squirrel.
- Mum's gone doolally with all the Christmas shopping.
- "Have you gone doolally?" asked Dad when I put salt in my tea.
- The fans went doolally when the goal went in.
- The old computer's gone doolally and keeps restarting.
- He went a bit doolally after staying up all night.
- Calling someone with an illness "doolally" is unkind.
- The kids went doolally on the bouncy castle.

### Note

Trap: slangy and can be offensive about mental illness or dementia. Plain words: crazy, over-excited, confused. Mostly UK.