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go ballistic

 - 3 dictionary results

bal⋅lis⋅tic

  [buh-lis-tik]
Use go ballistic in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to ballistics.
2. having its motion determined or describable by the laws of exterior ballistics.
—Idiom
3. go ballistic, Informal. to become overwrought or irrational: went ballistic over the idea of a tax hike.
Origin:
1765–75; ballist(a) + -ic

Related forms:
bal⋅lis⋅ti⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To go ballistic
bal·lis·tic   (bə-lĭs'tĭk)   
adj.  

    1. Of or relating to the study of the dynamics of projectiles.

    2. Of or relating to the study of the internal action of firearms.

  2. Of or relating to projectiles, their motion, or their effects.


[From ballista.]
bal·lis'ti·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Idioms & Phrases

go ballistic

Become extremely upset or angry, as in Dad will go ballistic when he sees you dented the new car. This expression, a variation on go berserk, originally alluded to a guided missile going out of control. [Slang; mid-1980s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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