nuts
UK: nʌts | US: nʌts
adj. informal meaning 1: crazy or insane
adj. informal meaning 2: extremely enthusiastic or obsessed (e.g., "nuts about football")
n. plural of "nut" (edible seed or hard-shelled fruit)
interj. vulgar slang expression of dismissal or disbelief (e.g., "Nuts to that!")
The word "nut" traces back to Old English hnutu, from Proto-Germanic hnut-, referring to hard-shelled seeds like acorns or hazelnuts. The informal adjective "nuts" (meaning "crazy") emerged in early 20th-century American slang, likely influenced by the phrase "off one's nut" (slang for "head"). The plural form "nuts" simply adds the English suffix "-s" to "nut." The slang usage reflects metaphorical logic: a "nut" as a head → "losing one's nut" → irrationality.
She’s absolutely nuts about classical music.
The squirrel buried dozens of nuts for winter.
"You want me to work unpaid? Nuts to that!"
His idea sounded completely nuts at first.
The machine went nuts and started beeping uncontrollably.