bugs
Bugs (adj) means crazy; mentally unhinged (informal). Example: “He went completely bugs when he found out he'd lost the contract.”
How to Use Bugs
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishInformal slang for acting crazy or losing control.
Very informal — used in speech, not formal writing.
Word Forms
more bugs comparative, most bugs superlative
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He went completely _____ when he found out he'd lost the contract.
Related Words
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “bugs” mean?
The word “bugs” means crazy; mentally unhinged (informal). In plain terms, informal slang for acting crazy or losing control.
How do you pronounce “bugs”?
“Bugs” is pronounced buhgz (/bʌɡz/ in IPA).
How do you use “bugs” in a sentence?
Here is “bugs” used in a sentence: “He went completely bugs when he found out he'd lost the contract.”
What part of speech is “bugs”?
“Bugs” is an adjective.
Is “bugs” a common word?
“Bugs” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Is calling someone bugs the same as calling them crazy?
Yes. As an adjective, bugs is informal slang meaning crazy or mentally unhinged, as in "you must be bugs." It is a light-hearted, dated-sounding term rather than a serious description of anyone's mental state.
Is bugs appropriate in formal writing?
No. Bugs is slang and belongs to casual speech; it should not appear in formal, professional, or clinical contexts. In careful writing, use a word like irrational or unreasonable instead.
What is the difference between bugs and buggy?
As slang, bugs means crazy and describes a person's state of mind. Buggy most often describes software that is full of errors, or a place infested with insects, though it too can informally mean crazy. Context makes the intended sense clear.
Can you say "a bugs idea," or only "he is bugs"?
The slang adjective bugs is used predicatively — after a verb like be, as in "he's bugs" — not directly before a noun. English speakers do not say "a bugs idea"; in that position a word like crazy or harebrained is used instead.