adj
barmy
BAH-mee
adj
1
Crazy, foolish, or eccentric.
"It's a barmy idea to go hiking in this weather."
"He's gone completely barmy over that new car."
How to Use Barmy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSlightly crazy or foolish, usually in a harmless, amusing way.
When to use it
Chiefly British and informal.
UK vs US
Common in British English; Americans would more likely say "nuts" or "crazy."
Common pairings
barmy idea
go barmy
barmy army
Word Forms
barmier comparative, barmier comparative, barmiest superlative, barmiest superlative
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It's a _____ idea to go hiking in this weather.
Etymology
Originally described something full of "barm," the foam that forms on fermenting beer — the sense shifted from "frothy, bubbling" to "excitable" and eventually to "crazy."