like mad Definition

like¹
adj

1. Similar; resembling.

Example: as like as two peas
Thesaurus: similar, alike, resembling, analogous, corresponding, homologous, parallel, relating, akin.
2. Typical of.

Example: It's just like them to forget
3. Used in asking someone for a description of someone or something

Example: What's he like?

prep

1. In the same manner as; to the same extent as.

Example: run like a deer
2. Such as.

Example: animals like cats and dogs

adverb

1. colloq
Approximately.
2. colloq
As it were.
Example: It was magic, like

conj

colloq:
1. As if; as though.

Example: It's like I've been here before
2. In the same way as.

Example: not pretty like you are

noun

1. Usually preceded by a possessive pronoun: the counterpart or equal of someone or something.

Example: people of their like

Idiom: anything like

Note: often with negatives
Nearly.
Example: not anything like as good as the other one

Idiom: the like

Things of the same kind;
Example: TVs, radios and the like are on the third floor

Note: with negatives and in questions
Anything similar.
Example: never see the like again

Idiom: the likes of

usually contemptuous
People or things such as.
Example: wouldn't have much to do with the likes of them

Idiom: like as not

dialect
Probably.
Example: She'll be on time, like as not

Idiom: nothing like

Not nearly.
Example: His new film is nothing like as good as his last one

Idiom: something like

Approximately.
Example: paid something like £150 to get her car repaired

Idiom: like a ...

See under the following noun, eg for like a bat out of hell see under bat.

Idiom: like crazy (like mad)

colloq
Furiously; very much, fast, etc.
Example: drove like crazy

Idiom: like one of the family

colloq
As though someone or something was a member of one's family.
Example: She treats that cat like one of the family

Idiom: like what

non-standard
In the same way as.
Example: He's not mad like what you are

Idiom: more like it

Nearer to what is wanted or required;
Example: A cup of tea? A large brandy would be more like it

Nearer to the truth.
Example: calls her his research assistant but dogsbody is more like it

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon gelic alike.

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mad
adj madder, maddest

1. Mentally disturbed; insane.

Thesaurus: insane, demented, deranged, psychotic, crazed, delirious, raving, unbalanced, unstable, daft, nuts (slang), bonkers (slang), bananas (slang), batty (slang), having bats in the belfry (slang), off one's rocker (slang), round the bend (slang); Antonym: rational, sane.
2. Foolish or senseless; extravagantly carefree.
(originally & especially US)
3. colloq
Very angry; furious.
Thesaurus: incensed, furious, enraged, livid, wrathful, fuming, angry, irate.
Form: mad at someone (often)
Form: mad with someone
4. colloq
Extremely enthusiastic; fanatical; infatuated.
Example: My boys are mad about cricket
Example: she's football-mad
Form: mad about something (usually)
Form: mad on something
5. Marked by extreme confusion, haste or excitement.

Example: a mad dash for the door
Thesaurus: distraught, frenetic, frantic, agitated; Antonym: calm, clear-headed.
6. Frantic with grief, pain or another violent emotion or desire.
7. Said of a dog, etc: infected with rabies.

Derivative: madly

In a mad way.
Thesaurus: irrationally, insanely, crazily, psychotically, deliriously, dementedly, nonsensically, rabidly.

colloq
Passionately.
Thesaurus: wildly, furiously, fanatically, frantically, desperately, passionately, rashly, hastily, violently.

Derivative: madness
noun

The state or quality of being mad
Thesaurus: insanity, lunacy, derangement, delusion, craziness, aberration, raving.

Idiom: go mad

To become insane or demented.

colloq
To become very angry.

Idiom: like mad

colloq
Frantically; very energetically.
Example: waving like mad at the back of the crowd

Idiom: mad as a hatter

Completely insane; crazy possibly from the fact that, in the manufacture of felt hats, hatters used nitrate of mercury, exposure to which caused mental and physical symptoms which were interpreted as madness.

Idiom: mad as a March hare

See under March hare.

Idiom: mad keen

colloq
Extremely enthusiastic.

Etymology: 13c: from Anglo-Saxon gemæded, past participle of gemædan to madden.