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adj

bats

bats
adj
1
Informal: crazy or mentally unstable.
"He's gone completely bats since the divorce."

How to Use Bats

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn informal way of calling someone or something crazy.

When to use it

Informal/dated — you'll hear it more in older British writing than everyday modern speech.

Easily confused with

Word Forms

more bats comparative, most bats superlative

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He's gone completely _____ since the divorce.

Etymology

From "bat(man)" plus the hypocoristic -s ending, likely reinforced by the phrase "bats in the belfry."

Rhymes for bats

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial