unhinge

Everyday

1. To take a door or lid off its hinges. tree →
2. To upset someone so much that they stop thinking clearly or calmly. tree →
3. (informal) «Unhinged» means acting in a wild, strange or crazy way. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, «unhinged» tells the reader a character has lost control or is acting madly, like a villain. In everyday and online talk, people say a joke or video is «unhinged» when it is wildly silly. In DIY, you unhinge a door to fix or paint it.

Examples

• Dad had to unhinge the door to fit the new carpet. tree →
• The cupboard door was unhinged and lay on the floor. tree →
• The shock of the news seemed to unhinge him. tree →
• The villain gave an unhinged laugh. tree →
• That comedy sketch was completely unhinged. tree →
• Don't let one bad mark unhinge you before the test. tree →
• We unhinged the gate and carried it to the shed. tree →

Note

Mostly used as the adjective «unhinged». Calling a real person «unhinged» can be unkind, because it suggests they are mentally ill; be careful using it about people.