" Mad as a hatter " is a colloquial English phrase used in conversation to suggest (lightheartedly) that a person is suffering from insanity. The etymology of the phrase is uncertain, with explanations both …

And by 1865, when Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was published, the idiom was so well-known that Lewis Carroll could name a character the Mad Hatter and everyone would know it was in reference …

Dec 3, 2015 · However, the phrase “mad as a hatter,” used to describe someone who’s crazy or prone to unpredictable behavior, didn’t originate with Carroll. Instead, the expression is linked to the...

Oct 20, 2023 · Of all the characters Alice encounters during her adventures in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter is one of the most maddening and confusing, offering Alice a series of unsolvable riddles and …

Aug 1, 2025 · The phrase "mad as a hatter," widely recognized in American vernacular, has its roots in the hat-making industry of the 18th and 19th centuries. While popularized further by Lewis Carroll’s …

mad as a hatter idiomatic phrase informal + old-fashioned : severely mentally unsound

As mad as a hatter means eccentric or crazy, linked to old hat-making mercury fumes and the behavior they could trigger.

Mar 16, 2025 · The Origin of the Expression “Mad as a Hatter” The phrase “mad as a hatter” is commonly used to describe someone who appears eccentric, insane, or highly unpredictable.

Aug 22, 2025 · Today, it’s often used humorously or affectionately to describe someone acting a bit strange or wild. In simple terms: “Mad as a hatter” is an idiom used to describe a person who is …

Crazy, demented, as in She is throwing out all his clothes; she's mad as a hatter. This expression, dating from the early 1800s, alludes to exposure to the chemicals formerly used in making felt hats, which …