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have bats in one's belfry

To be crazy or eccentric.

Etymology:

  • 1899, from tendency of bats to fly around erratically, with “belfry” indicating “head, mind”.
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“

Anyone declaring himself Emperor of San Franscisco probably had bats in his belfry.

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to have bats in one's belfry

have ants in one's pantshave another think cominghave eyes in the back of one's headhave a thinghave ants in one's pantshave gothave blood on one's handshave eyes forhave eyes bigger than one's bellyhave had it up to herehave done withhave athave an eye forhave had it

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    "have bats in one's belfry." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/have-bats-in-ones-belfry_4334>.

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