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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 another thing cominghave blood on one's handshave a word with oneselfhave had it up to herehave done withhave eyes bigger than one's bellyhave athave an eye forhave at ithave eyes forhave eyes in the back of one's headhave ants in one's pantshave butterflies in one's stomachhave a thing

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    "have bats in one's belfry." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Nov. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/have-bats-in-ones-belfry_4334>.

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