Crazy as a loon

Posted by David FG on June 08, 2005

In Reply to: Crazy as a loon posted by Alfredo DeFalco on June 08, 2005

: Crazy as a loon

I assume that you were asking for the origin of the phrase.

What in (English-speaking) Europe is called the Great Northern Diver is called in North America the Common Loon (a species of bird). It has a weird, haunting cry which presumably suggested to someone the howls of the insane. Hence, crazy as a loon.

DFG

• Crazy as a loon Smokey Stover 09/June/05
  • Crazy as a loon Lewis 09/June/05