mad as a hatter

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mad as a hatter

/ˌmæd æz ə ˈhætə/ UK
/ˌmæd æz ə ˈhætɚ/ US

Where it comes from

First recorded 1829. Of uncertain origin, though usually explained as referring to hat-makers suffering from Erethism due to handling mercury-contaminated felt. Derivation from Old English ātor (“poison”) or its descendant English atter lacks evidence.

adjective

not comparable Crazy or demented. He's a very good fellow, but as mad as a hatter. He's called Madman, you know. And never was such a fellow for getting all sorts of rum things about him. He tamed two snakes last half, and used to carry them about in his pocket; and I'll be bound he's got some hedgehogs and rats in his cupboard now,
Similar: disturbed, insane, loopy, nutty, mad as a March hare

Translations

Every language

adj demented or crazy

Español	más loco que una cabra, como una chota, como una regadera
Italiano	fuori di testa, fuori come un balcone, matto da legare
Русский	спя́тивший spjátivšij, не в своём уме́ ne v svojóm umé, вы́живший из ума́ výživšij iz umá

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MLA

"mad as a hatter." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/mad%20as%20a%20hatter. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

APA

mad as a hatter. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 7, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/mad%20as%20a%20hatter

Chicago

"mad as a hatter." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 7, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/mad%20as%20a%20hatter.

BibTeX

@misc{mad_as_a_hatter_2026,
  title = {mad as a hatter},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/mad%20as%20a%20hatter},
  urldate = {2026-11-07}
}