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bananas
second banana
1. A performer who acts as a support to a lead comedian (the so-called "top banana"), as during a burlesque or vaudeville routine. I generally don't mind playing second banana when I'm with such a legendary comedian, but it would be nice to be the one getting all the laughs once in a while.
2. By extension, someone who occupies a secondary, lesser, or subservient role or position. I've been second banana in this company for too long now. I'm going to start up my own business, and then I'll be the one in charge!
go bananas
Sl. to go mildly crazy. Sorry, I just went bananas for a minute. I thought he was going to go bananas.
go bananas
to become very emotional I just went bananas when she told me she wanted to move out.
go bananas
(informal) to become very angry She'll go bananas if she sees the room in this state.
drive someone crazy
Also, drive someone mad or bananas or bonkers or nuts or up the wall ; drive someone to drink. Greatly exasperate someone, annoy to distraction. For example, His habitual lateness drives me crazy, or Apologizing over and over drives me bananas, or These slovenly workmen drive me up the wall, or Your nagging is driving me to drink. All of these hyperbolic expressions describe a person's extreme frustration, supposedly to the point of insanity ( crazy, mad, nuts, bonkers, and bananas all mean "insane"); up the wall alludes to climbing the walls to escape and to drink to imbibing alcohol to induce oblivion.
go bananas
Act crazy, as in
When it comes to animal rights, some people go bananas. According to the lexicographer J. E. Lighter, this expression may allude to the similar
go ape, in that apes and other primates are closely associated with eating bananas. [
Slang; second half of 1900s]
second banana
bananas
1. mod. crazy. (Often with go, see also go bananas.) You were bananas before I ever showed up on the scene.
2. mod. enthusiastic. The audience was bananas over the new star.
Cool beans!
and Cool bananas! exclam. Wow! Cool beans, man. That’s great! I won again! Cool bananas!
Cool bananas!
verbgo bananas
in. to go mildly crazy. (see also
bananas.)
I thought he was going to go bananas.