To go mad or lose your temper.
Ballistic
Example Sentences
"He went ballistic when he found out."
"She'll go absolutely ballistic if she sees this mess."
Etymology & History
From military terminology meaning "like a missile". Adopted into Cockney slang in the 1970s-80s to describe explosive anger, similar to "going off like a rocket".
Word Details
📍
Region
London/Cockney
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Era
1970s
✓
Language
Mild
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Formality
Slang
Categories:
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Anglotopia's Dictionary of British English 2nd Edition
British Slang from A to Zed
By Jonathan Thomas
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