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JungKim Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Are you mad?

Does Are you mad? mean (1) Are you angry? or (2) Are you crazy? or either?
  

Top answer

H, Either. Although the 'angry' meaning is informal. The context usually makes the meaning clear.

— Clive

  • H, Either.
  • Although the 'angry' meaning is informal.
  • The context usually makes the meaning clear.
  • Clive
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21 Answers
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H,

Either.
Although the 'angry' meaning is informal.
The context usually makes the meaning clear.

Clive
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CliveAlthough the 'angry' meaning is informal.
This is news to me. As far as I know, not one dictionary marks this use of mad as informal. I've always thought that it was an ordinary synonym for angry, furious, etc.
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Aspara GusAs far as I know, not one dictionary marks this use of mad as informal.
I beg to differ. As far as I'm concerned, pretty much most dictionaries do.
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/mad
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CliveThe context usually makes the meaning clear.
Is the context the only way to figure out its meaning?
I was hoping for a little more than that.
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JungKimCliveThe context usually makes the meaning clear.Is the context the only way to figure out its meaning?I was hoping for a little more than that.
The meaning of very few words in English is clear without context.
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Yes, context is the key.

There are many English words which can only have a definitive meaning with a context.

For example, iron. It can mean a chemical element, a tool for pressing clothes, the action of pressing clothes, or an allegory for strength. Only context will give you the answer.

A-
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fivejedjonThe meaning of very few words in English is clear without context.
Before I comment, let me first make it clear that I'm not to downplay the importance of context.
Firstly, I would argue that I did provide at least some "context" here by forming a complete sentence rather than just putting the word 'mad'. Moreover, clearly the sentence as such do
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JungKimDoes Are you mad? mean (1) Are you angry? or (2) Are you crazy? or either?
In America, it can only mean 1. In other Englishes, it means 2 (if I am not mistaken). In America, "mad" only means "insane" in certain contexts, and your question is not one of them. You would have to ask, "Have you gone mad?", but even so, it would sound odd and British. We hav
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JungKimNow, let me ask you native speakers. Whenever someone, e.g., a friend of yours, asks you "are you mad?", do you really spend some time to think about the context to figure out the meaning of the sentence?
When we are in a conversation with a friend, we know the context. The reason we go on about context in forums such as this is that people frequ
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fivejedjonWhen we are in a conversation with a friend, we know the context.
OK. so provided that you're talking to a friend, would you come up with a different answer? If so, please let me know the answer in that context.
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