What is the origin of the phrase "to go cuckoo"? It seems to have two meanings. In England it usually means to go mad or insane, while in America it seems to be used to mean wildly enthusiastic about something.

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What is the origin of the phrase "to go cuckoo"? It seems to have two meanings. In England it usually means to go mad or insane, while in America it seems to be used to mean wildly enthusiastic about something.

Question #79227. Asked by davejacobs.

Related Trivia Topics: Linguistics England Vocabulary Idioms and Proverbs

collect
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collect
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Answer has 4 votes.

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"Going cuckoo" means to go insane ... the use int he US to mean "enthusiastic" --- generally from the advertising slogan "Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs" on tv ...

Apr 21 2007, 7:22 AM

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Answer 1

Baloo55th
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Baloo55th
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The UK use of cuckoo indicates something less than insanity - barmy rather than barking. It probably comes from the repetitive call of the cuckoo, implying that the person concerned is making as much sense as the bird.

Apr 21 2007, 11:01 AM

Answer 2

tragic_flawed
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tragic_flawed
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Answer has 2 votes.

Maybe from Aristophanes' cuckooland

Apr 21 2007, 8:52 PM

Answer 3

tragic_flawed
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tragic_flawed
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359 replies

Answer has 3 votes.

http://etymonline.com/?term=cuckoo

Apr 21 2007, 8:56 PM

What is the origin of the phrase "to go cuckoo"? It seems to have two meanings. In England it usually means to go mad or insane, while in America it seems to be used to mean wildly enthusiastic about something.

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