Where “Mad as a Meat Axe” Comes From
“Mad as a meat axe” is a simile meaning wildly crazy or extremely angry. Green’s Dictionary of Slang records similes such as “mad as a meat axe” from the United States, with its earliest example dated 1832, and notes an Australian and New Zealand sense of the phrase for an eccentric person.
So, unlike many Australian expressions, it wasn’t invented in Australia, but it has been popular here for a long time, alongside “mad as a cut snake” and “mad as a hatter”.
Source:
“He’s as mad as a meat axe.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
You’ll hear it in storytelling, humour and descriptions of wild behaviour.
In Real Life
Australians love vivid similes, and “mad as a meat axe” is one of the favourites. It can describe someone who’s furious, someone who’s behaving oddly or a chaotic situation. It’s mostly used humorously about friends, kids and pets. Because “mad” can also mean mental illness, many people now choose other words when speaking about real health matters.
Quick Questions
Is mad as a meat axe Australian?
It’s used in Australia, but Green’s Dictionary of Slang records similar similes from the US first.
What does mad mean here?
Either crazy or angry, depending on the context.
Say It Like an Aussie
Say it: MAD az uh MEET AKS.
In conversation:
- That bloke is mad as a meat axe.
- She was mad as a meat axe when she found out.
- The dog goes mad as a meat axe at the postie.
Good to know: Be careful where you use it. “Mad” as a word for mental illness can offend people, so it’s best for jokes about wild behaviour, not as a serious description of someone’s health.
See also: Mad as a cut snake, Drongo, Stirrer
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