🗓️ Idiom: Go Berserk (v)
💬 Meaning
- To become extremely angry or upset.
- To lose control and react in a wild or extreme way.
🧠 Example Sentences
- The manager went berserk when he discovered the data was deleted by mistake.
- A customer went berserk after being charged twice for the same service.
- He tries to stay calm, but he sometimes goes berserk when deadlines are ignored.
🏛️ Origin
The word “berserk” comes from Old Norse stories about Viking warriors called berserkers. These warriors were known for fighting in an uncontrolled, wild state. The word entered English to describe anyone who loses control emotionally, not just in battle. Today, it often refers to someone becoming extremely angry, especially in everyday or workplace situations.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
The customer almost __________ when she found out her order had been cancelled without notice.
Answer
went berserk
2. Multiple choice:
What does “go berserk” mean?
A. To speak calmly and softly
B. To become extremely angry or out of control
C. To take time to think before reacting
Answer
B To become extremely angry or out of control
3. Change the sentence using “go berserk”:
“He became extremely angry when the office printer jammed again.”
Answer
He went berserk when the office printer jammed again.
ℹ️ Other Useful Pages
📚 Learning Resources
👉 Idioms for Complaints
👉 Business English Idioms List
👥 Support Spaces
👉 Student Space
👉 Tutor Toolkit
⭐️ Extras
📫 Get a Daily Idiom
🚀 Build a Business with AI
Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
