Today, let’s look at a fun and colorful expression that paints quite the picture.
Ever heard someone say “red as a beet, mad as a hatter”? It might make you imagine a person’s face turning bright red with frustration, all while acting completely irrational, like a character from a mad tea party.
This unique combo is what’s known as an idiomatic combination or mixed idiom. It’s when two familiar expressions get blended together to create something new, often with a more vivid or humorous twist.
So, what does it mean?
Red as a Beet Mad As a Hatter Meaning
The phrase “red as a beet, mad as a hatter” is a combination of two expressions:
- “Red as a beet”: This part describes someone’s face turning very red, usually from embarrassment, anger, or exertion. It’s often used to describe someone who is blushing or visibly upset.
- “Mad as a hatter“: This part means to be completely crazy or insane. It originates from the 19th century, when hat-makers (due to exposure to mercury in the process of making felt) often showed signs of madness or eccentric behavior.
Together, “Red as a Beet, Mad as a Hatter” describes someone who is extremely angry or upset, likely to the point of acting irrationally or in a very eccentric way.
Examples of Sentences That Use the Combined Phrase “Red as a Beet, Mad as a Hatter“:
- When I told him his favorite team lost the game, he turned red as a beet, mad as a hatter, and started shouting at the TV.
- Sarah was red as a beet, mad as a hatter when she found out someone had borrowed her car without asking.
- He was red as a beet, mad as a hatter after the surprise meeting with his boss, who criticized his performance unfairly.
- After hearing the news about the canceled concert, Mark was red as a beet, mad as a hatter, storming out of the office.
- She was red as a beet, mad as a hatter when she realized someone had taken credit for her idea in the meeting.
Other Phrases That Suggest Extreme Anger or Irrational Behavior
- Fuming mad
- Seeing red
- Livid with rage
- Off the rails
- Out of control
- Mad as a March hare
- Hot under the collar
- Blowing a fuse
- Flipping out
- Going off the deep end