bats\ in\ the\ belfry

bats\ in\ the\ belfry
• bats in one's belfry
• bats in the belfry
n. phr. slang
Wild ideas in his mind; disordered senses; great mental confusion.

When he talked about going to the moon he was thought to have bats in his belfry.


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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  • bats in the belfry — Someone with bats in the belfry is crazy or eccentric …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • bats in the belfry — (informal) To be crazy or slightly mad ● bat * * * bats in the (or one s) belfry see bat II …   Useful english dictionary

  • bats in the belfry —    If you say that somebody has bats in the belfry, you mean that they are eccentric or crazy.     He comes up with the craziest ideas he s got bats in the belfry! …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • bats in the belfry —    mental abnormality    The phrase covers anything from absentmindedness through eccentricity to madness, when the wild ideas may circle in your head like the mammals in the church tower at twilight:     Dear man, you ve got bats in the belfry.… …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • bats in the belfry — Meaning Crazy. Origin The bats are the erratically flying animals rather than sports equipment. The image is of someone who has bats careering around in his head …   Meaning and origin of phrases

  • have bats in the belfry — old fashioned to be crazy. Don t tell anyone else I said that or they ll think I ve got bats in the belfry …   New idioms dictionary

  • have bats in the belfry — ► have bats in the belfry informal be eccentric or mad. Main Entry: ↑bat …   English terms dictionary

  • bats in the/your belfry — see ↑belfry • • • Main Entry: ↑bat bats in the/your belfry informal + old fashioned ◇ To have bats in the belfry or (chiefly US) bats in your belfry is to be crazy. an old woman with bats in her belfry [=a crazy/batty old woman] • • • …   Useful english dictionary

  • have bats in the belfry — phrasal : to be foolish, eccentric, or insane * * * have bats in the (or one s) belfry informal be eccentric or crazy …   Useful english dictionary

  • have bats in the belfry — informal be eccentric or mad. → bat around/about …   English new terms dictionary

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