Traditional
Still common
Definition
Completely crazy or scatterbrained.
Example Sentence
"Selling the house on a whim like that - he's mad as a gumtree full of galahs."
Where "Mad as a Gumtree Full of Galahs" Comes From
Galahs are famously noisy, excitable native cockatoos, and a gumtree full of them squawking at once is a genuinely chaotic sight.
"Galah" was already established slang for a foolish person, and this idiom builds a whole vivid scene around it.
How Aussies Actually Use It
It's used for anyone acting erratically, foolishly, or a bit unhinged, usually good-naturedly.
It works for a single silly act or as a broader description of someone's personality.
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