What Does “run amok” mean?
Definition:
To behave in a frenzied and out-of-control manner.
Other variations of the same idioms include:
– run riot.
– run wild.
– go amok.
Origin of the idiom “run amok”
The word “amok” comes from a Malay word which means “frenzied”. It is increasingly viewed now as psychopathological behavior. The syndrome of “amok” is found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV TR). The phrase is often used in a less serious manner when describing something that is wildly out of control or causing a frenzy for example, “a dog tearing up the living room furniture might be termed as ‘running amok'”.
Example(s)
My dog often runs amok.
The weeds are running riot in the lawn.
The kids were running wild in the house.
This idiom is in the sport category.
