go berserk

phrase

1

: to become very angry and often violent

… the driver went berserk and started punching him when he told him they had called police.

—Rob Parascandola et al.

On one ski run, a teenage snowboarder nearly creamed a little girl, and [retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general Robin] Olds went berserk. The snowboarder took off with that old dogfighter hot on his tail …

—Ralph F. Wetterhahn

2

: to become very excited

The crowd was going berserk as the team scored with seconds to go.

My first day ashore at Hanna Point, I went berserk taking pictures of the chinstrap penguins.

—Vera Spooner

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for go berserk

• bodywork
• handiwork
• ironwork
• latticework
• masterwork
• metalwork
• needlework
• openwork
• overwork
• paperwork
• subnetwork
• artwork