loon

Everyday

1. A large water bird of North America and northern Europe with a haunting call, good at diving for fish (called a diver in the UK). tree →
2. (informal) A silly, crazy or strange person. tree →
3. (Scotland, informal) A boy or young man (also spelled «loon» in the north-east). tree →

In the lessons

In Canada and the northern USA the loon is a famous bird; it is on the Canadian one-dollar coin, which is called the «loonie». In everyday slang calling someone a «loon» means they are acting crazy, usually in a joking way. Phrases: crazy as a loon, the call of the loon.

Examples

• We heard a loon calling across the lake at night. tree →
• The loon dived under the water to catch a fish. tree →
• My uncle is a bit of a loon, but he is very funny. tree →
• Stop acting like a loon! tree →
• The Canadian coin with the loon on it is called a loonie. tree →
• A loon has red eyes and a black-and-white back. tree →
• «You absolute loon,» laughed Gran. tree →

Note

Plural: loons. Related: loony or looney (crazy — can hurt people with mental illness, so use kindly), loonie (Canadian dollar). In British English the bird is called a «diver».