[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/nutcase/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [N](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/n/) / nutcase

# nutcase

noun (a nutcase, nutcases)

«nutcase» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (slang, unkind) A person who acts in a very silly, wild or crazy way. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/N/nutcase/#m1)
2. (slang, can be friendly) A fun, daft person, as in "You're a total nutcase!" among friends. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/N/nutcase/#m2)

### In the lessons

Used in informal talk and stories; it can be a joke between friends or an insult. It is unkind and hurtful to use about people with mental illness. In stories it shows the speaker is being rude or teasing.

### Examples

- "You're a nutcase!" laughed Tom as his friend jumped in the puddle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/N/nutcase/#x1)
- Some nutcase drove the wrong way down the road. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/N/nutcase/#x2)
- My uncle is a lovable nutcase who dances everywhere. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/N/nutcase/#x3)
- Don't call people nutcases; it can hurt. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/N/nutcase/#x4)
- The dog went like a nutcase when it saw the ball. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/N/nutcase/#x5)
- Only a nutcase would swim in the sea in January! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/N/nutcase/#x6)

### Note

Informal and slang; never use in school writing. Similar slang: "nutter" (UK), "nut", "loony", all unkind. Kind language: avoid using these words about people who are ill.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «nutcase»](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/N/nutcase/): every meaning and example of this page parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«nutcase» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nutcase.html) on Mova free.