nutjob
noun

- someone who is crazy, silly, or strange

Cambridge Dictionary

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ORIGIN

In the 1600s, the word nut also referred to pleasure, and the terms "nutts upon" was used to express affection or liking for someone or something. By the mid-1800s nut was used to refer to the head, so to "be off your nut" meant to be insane.

This may explain why today you can use both expressions "be nuts about" or "be crazy about" to talk about someone or something you really like. Affection and insanity are cousins, it seems.

However, we're likely to exclaim "That's nuts!" when someone does or says something that we think is completely irrational or very risky. Similarly, a nutter (person) and nutty (personality) refer to someone who is a little strange.

Variations include "nutcase", "wingnut", "nutty as a fruitcake" or "drive someone nuts". But be careful! Some people think that expressions such as these are unacceptable because they mock the mentally ill.

In 2015 there was public protest following use of the word nutjob in the The Daily Telegraph. The sentence was changed to "Corbyn has just appointed a man from cloud cuckoo land (instead of a nutjob) as shadow chancellor".

"Cloud cuckoo land" is a state of incredible optimism and a place where everything is perfect. This comes from a play, The Birds, by the Greek writer and philosopher, Aristophanes. In the play, the world's birds create a perfect city in the sky.

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SYNONYMS

fanatic, loon, lunatic, crackpot, flake, fruitcake, fruit loop, nut, nutcase, oddball, odd bird, madman, madwoman

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Practice OWAD in a conversation

"His friends think he's a NUTJOB for turning down such a good job offer."