Mad as a cut snake

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Meaning

Extremely angry, wildly agitated or behaving in an uncontrolled way. Very informal. It usually describes anger or commotion, not a medical condition. Regional use: Australia.

Origin

Australian evidence includes mad as a snake from around 1900, with the more vivid cut-snake form developing later. An injured snake's violent movement and defensive striking provide the evident comparison, but no single bush incident can be identified as the coinage. In Australian usage mad can mean angry as well as irrational.

Variants

  • Mad as a snake
  • Go off like a cut snake
  • Wild as a cut snake

Usage Examples

  • The farmer was mad as a cut snake when he found the gate open again.
  • Touch that radio dial and Dad will go off like a cut snake.

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