Have you ever heard someone use the term ‘going postal’ and wondered what they were referring to? We are going to look at the meaning of this saying and where it came from. We will also take a look at how we can use the saying in a conversation.
Going Postal
Going Postal Meaning
When someone says that a person is ‘going postal’ they are saying that that person has completely lost their temper and is exceptionally angry. The term is particularly useful to describe a violent outburst of anger.
Origin of this idiom
The term ‘going postal’ became a popular idiom in the 1980s and 1990s when several tragic murders occurred by workers in the US postal service. These workers killed over 40 of their fellow employees and thus the term ‘going postal’ was coined.
“Going Postal” Examples
Examples in Statements
A statement to show how angry someone is.
- ‘Bob is going postal now he has seen the mess that his kids made at the house party they threw.’
This statement is from a news report.
- ‘Locals have been going postal over the new highway which is being built.’
Conversation Examples
You may be wondering how the phrase ‘going postal’ might fit into a conversation. Here are some examples of people using the term to describe someone who is incredibly angry.
The first conversation is between two colleagues.
- Person 1: “I can’t believe how mad Susan was when she found out about getting fired.”
- Person 2: “I know, she was going postal over the situation.”
This conversation happens between two friends, one of whom is getting angry.
- Person 1: “I am so annoyed, I’m going to really lose my temper soon.”
- Person 2: “There’s no need for going postal, just stay calm.”
- Person 1: “Did you see how angry Peter was at work?”
- Person 2: “Yes, he was totally going postal, he even punched the wall.”
Other Ways to Say the Phrase
There are many other ways in which you can describe this term.
Here are some examples of things you might say.
- Losing the plot
- Going insane
What Does “Going Postal” Mean? | Picture
Last Updated on March 23, 2020