All Ears English Podcast – Episode 2524: How Crazy Adds Color to Your English

Hosts: Lindsay McMahon & Aubrey Carter
Date: December 3, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Lindsay and Aubrey break down the many ways the word "crazy" is used in American English, particularly as an adjective. Prompted by a listener’s question, they share six distinct meanings and practical uses of "crazy," ranging from informal and slangy to more serious contexts. The hosts provide real-life examples, clear explanations, and advice on cultural sensitivity and intonation, showing how “crazy” can add vibrant expression—and authentic connection—to English conversation.

Key Discussion Points

1. The Literal (and Outdated) Use of "Crazy"

• Definition: Historically, "crazy" meant "not mentally sound" or "mentally ill."
• Current Usage: This sense is now rare due to increased sensitivity about mental health; more precise terms like "mentally ill" or "suffering from mental illness" are preferred.
  • Quote [06:13, Aubrey]: “Of all of the meanings we’re going to talk about today, this is actually now used the least often. We’re much more careful to use the word crazy.”

2. "Crazy" Meaning Wild, Strange, or Out of Control

• Definition: Used for describing wild situations or behaviors—something unpredictable, energetic, or chaotic.
• Examples:
  • “The crowd went crazy when the band came on stage.” [07:23, Aubrey]
  • “Traffic is crazy downtown right now.” [07:32, Lindsay]
  • Remembering riskier or unpredictable "crazy" youth or phases in life.

3. "Crazy" as Extremely Good, Impressive, or Surprising (Positive Slang)

• Definition: "Crazy" can intensify how good or surprising something is (slangy, positive meaning).
• Examples:
  • “That concert was crazy good.” [08:34, Aubrey]
  • “You got the job after one interview? That’s crazy!” [08:43, Lindsay]
  • Intonation matters: Positive delivery conveys amazement, not negativity.
    • Quote [09:01, Aubrey]: “If your intonation is very positive, be like, ‘that’s crazy,’ then they would know you mean like, ‘that’s awesome.’”
  • Add it before other adjectives: “crazy awesome,” “crazy delicious,” “crazy beautiful.”

4. “Crazy” as Negative: Excessive or Unreasonable

• Definition: Used to indicate something is way beyond normal or what’s acceptable.
• Examples:
  • "They're charging crazy prices for coffee in that hotel." [09:56, Lindsay]
  • “She works crazy hours, 12 hour days, six days a week.” [10:11, Lindsay]
  • “It's crazy to buy a new car when you just got one last year.” [10:13, Lindsay]

5. “Crazy” Meaning Unrealistic, Foolish, or Risky

• Definition: Used for irrational or senseless ideas, plans, or actions.
• Examples:
  • "That's a crazy idea, but it might just work." [11:03, Lindsay]
  • "You'd be crazy to quit your job without another one lined up." [11:03, Aubrey]
  • This builds on the original mental health association, but now simply means "illogical" or "foolish."

6. "Crazy" as a Slang Intensifier

• Definition: Functions like "very" or "extremely" to make another adjective stronger (can be positive or negative).
• Examples:
  • “It’s crazy hot today.” [11:51, Aubrey]
  • “She runs crazy fast.” [11:57, Lindsay]
  • “He’s crazy talented.” [12:04, Aubrey]
• Cultural Note: Very informal—best used with friends, not in business settings.
  • Quote [12:04, Lindsay]: “That is slang. So if you’re in a business scenario, maybe we’re not using that...”

Role Play Segment: Illustrating "Crazy" in Conversation

Role Play Topic: A festival that got out of control
Timestamps: [14:18–15:11]

• Aubrey: "You won't believe what happened at the festival last night. It was absolutely crazy."
• Lindsay: "Oh yeah? What happened?"
• Aubrey: "It was so packed and suddenly I look up and this crazy guy is climbing a speaker tower."
• Lindsay: "Yikes. Was he hurt?"
• Aubrey: "Not that I saw. I hope not. But I wouldn't be surprised."
• Lindsay: "I'm glad I didn’t go. Tickets were crazy expensive."

Breakdown:

• "Absolutely crazy" = wild, out of control (Point 2)
• "Crazy guy" = foolish, irrational (Point 5)
• "Crazy expensive" = as an intensifier (Point 6)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On expressiveness and connection:

  • [16:35, Aubrey] “This is a great way to connect, to exaggerate a story or to share. Right. If something really crazy or unexpected happened and to use this fun, informal vocabulary for it.”
  • [16:46, Lindsay] “When it comes to human connection, people connect with people that feel things. You want to connect with someone else that's seeing the world in vivid colors. And this is a way to show that you’re seeing the world in vivid colors.”

• On intonation:

  • [09:34, Lindsay] “You have to say that with some intonation too... That would be strange if you say that with a monotone.”
  • [17:08, Aubrey] “It’s really important to avoid a monotone or you’re kind of losing that chance to connect because like you were saying, the color comes out in both your vocabulary and your intonation.”

• On cultural change:

  • [06:14, Lindsay] "I think we're a lot more careful now. We have more technical terms for it. Someone's suffering from mental illness..."

Practical Tips

• Use “crazy” to make stories and descriptions more vivid, but be mindful of both the context and your intonation.
• Reserve informal uses for casual conversations, not professional settings.
• Avoid the historical, literal use when referring to mental health—use precise, respectful language instead.
• Pair "crazy" with positive adjectives for modern, upbeat slang (“crazy delicious”).
• Practice varying your pronunciation and emphasis to communicate the intended emotion.

Related Episodes & Further Listening

• Episode 2522: “What to say when you lose your train of thought” (recommended at [16:11])
• Older episode: Discussed the appropriateness of calling people “crazy” ([06:14]; search the blog or use ChatGPT to locate)

Final Takeaway

The word "crazy" is a flexible and colorful tool for everyday English—using it thoughtfully can help ESL speakers sound more natural and connect more deeply. It brightens up language, but as with any slang, it’s best deployed with awareness of context, audience, and tone.

Hosts’ Parting Words:
[17:26, Lindsay & Aubrey]: “You got it. Good stuff, Aubrey. We’ll see you in the next episode!”