To go off the deep end

Idiom: to go off the deep end; used as a verb

First Example:

Hugh: Hey, did you go shopping today? 

Marty: Yeah, I went to Costco.

Hugh: Did you remember to get toilet paper?                                

Marty: Yeah, I got four packages.

Hugh: Cool.  Where are they?                                                         

Marty: In my car.  I need help carrying them up.

Hugh:Why?                                                                                    

Marty: There's 30 rolls in each pack.

Hugh: Whoa! You didn't need to go off the deep end!                

Marty: You said to get a few packages.

Hugh: Yeah - the ones with like 6 rolls! Now we have enough toilet paper for years!       

             

Meaning: The idiom "to go off the deep end" is used when someone does something beyond what is expected, usually crazy or irrational. In the example above, Marty went off the deep end when he bought 4 large packages of toilet paper at Costco. The idiom is also used when someone becomes suddenly angry or upset, as in the next example:

Chrissie: How did the presentation go with the bosses? 

Pete: Not great.  They didn't really like our idea.

Chrissie: They didn't like any of it?                                                

Pete: Not really.

Chrissie: I've been working on that for a month! Do you think they're mad? I hope I don't get fired!

Pete: Whoa! Don't go off the deep end. They appreciated the work we put into it, but they had some other ideas, and they want us to work together on a new presentation.

Chrissie: Oh good.  Sorry, didn't mean to panic there.

Meaning: In this example, Chrissie panics because her bosses didn't like the project she and Pete had been working on for a month.  However, her sudden panic is irrational, and Pete calms her down by telling her that they want her to work with him on the new idea.

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April Fools!

April Fools' Day falls on the first of April each year and every year; this day is also known as All Fools' Day.  First celebrated in France, people believe it came from a calendar change in the 16th century when the calendar transition switched New Year's Day from April 1 to Jan. 1. People who would continue celebrating New Year's on the first of April were considered to be "April fools." As such, people would play tricks on those who celebrated. Many people play pranks and tell funny lies on the April fool’s day, so be alert! After a person has played a prank, they say "April fools" to let everyone know it was just a prank or joke.

Dialogue 1: 

Cindy:  Yuck!!! These doughnuts are HORRIBLE! What kind of filling is this?

Pat: Ha ha! April fools!

Cindy:  What??

Pat: It's April 1st today, so it is April Fools' Day! You know that you are officially allowed to play pranks and tell lies on April Fools' Day. I put mayonnaise filling in the doughnuts!

Cindy: Gee, thanks! Let me see if Bob would like a doughnut....

Dialogue 2:

Patricia: Did you see Ken's status on Facebook!!

Cherri: No, what happened! Calm down and take a few deep breaths.

Patricia: He just changed his status from single to married!!! I didn't even know he was engaged. He just married someone named Betty, who is 52 and lives in Texas. 

Cherri: Come on! You know that can't be true. It's probably an April fools' joke. I mean, he's only 19.  She is old enough to be his mom.

Patricia: That's right! It's April Fools' Day. I always forget. 

Meaning: In dialogue 1, Pat played a prank at the office by filling the doughnuts with mayonnaise for April Fools' Day.  In dialogue 2, Ken made up a fake status about marrying a much older woman in another state.  

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