All Ears English Podcast – Episode 2527: “You’ll Be Crazy About This Vocabulary”

Date: December 9, 2025
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon & Aubrey Carter

Episode Overview

This episode is the second of a two-part series exploring the many uses of the word “crazy” in American English. Hosts Lindsay and Aubrey break down idioms and expressions beyond the typical adjective meaning, offering engaging examples, cultural notes, and role plays. The goal is to help intermediate and advanced learners sound more natural, expressive, and connected when speaking English, all while highlighting the American tendency toward exaggeration in conversation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap and Episode Focus

• The hosts mention that Part 1 covered six meanings of “crazy” as an adjective and as an intensifier.
• In Part 2 (this episode), they dive into idioms and expressions featuring “crazy.”
• Aubrey: “Today we’re covering expressions and idioms that we use with the word crazy.” (03:33)

2. Featured “Crazy” Expressions

A. Crazy About (Someone/Something)

• Meaning: To be very enthusiastic about or deeply in love with someone or something.
• Examples:
  • “He’s crazy about her.”
  • “She’s crazy about basketball. She plays every day.” (05:09)
• Aubrey shares a personal example: Her daughter Georgia switched from soccer to basketball and is now “crazy about it.” (05:17)

B. Like Crazy

• Meaning: Very much, intensely, or to a great extent.
• Examples:
  • “She studied like crazy for the exam.” (06:00)
  • “I miss him like crazy.”
• Lindsay notes: “It’s kind of a way of intensifying what you’re saying.” (06:11)

C. Drive Someone Crazy

• Meaning 1: To annoy or irritate someone.
• Example: “That noise is driving me crazy.” (06:32)
• Meaning 2: To be very attractive to someone.
• Example: “His smile drives me crazy.” (06:45)
• Aubrey highlights: “It can mean annoying or that you really like it. Either way, you can say it drives you crazy.” (06:53)
• Lindsay emphasizes the need for context: “Pay close attention. Listen really closely when this word comes out.” (07:05)

D. Go Crazy

• Meaning: To become very excited, often in a group or at an event.
• Example: “The fans went crazy when the Dodgers won the World Series.” (07:13)
• Aubrey notes alternate use: If someone’s too excited, you might say, “Okay, let’s not go crazy.” (07:33)

E. Taking Crazy Pills

• Meaning: To feel confused or surprised, often when others’ behavior seems inexplicable.
• Example: “I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!” (07:49)
• Aubrey refers back to a previous episode for a deeper dive on this idiom (08:01).

3. American Exaggeration & Cultural Note

• Lindsay discusses how Americans exaggerate for connection:
  • “With the ramen, maybe it’s in my top 20 favorite foods, but… I’m still going to say I’m crazy about ramen.” (14:54)
• Aubrey confirms: “No one’s going to think that means it’s your number one favorite food. Because we love to exaggerate.” (15:17)

4. Role Play – Bringing the Idioms to Life

Segment Start: 10:18

• Scenario: Lindsay and Aubrey pretend to be friends chatting before a trip.
• Expressions Used:
  • “You’ve been planning like crazy all month.” (10:20)
  • “That is going to drive you crazy.”
  • “Everyone’s gonna go crazy and rush the gate.”
  • “I am crazy about ramen.” (10:47)
• Aubrey explains each idiom’s use in the conversation, reinforcing meaning, context, and the American preference for vivid, energetic language.

5. Difference in “Crazy” Usage: US vs UK

• Lindsay: “It might not work as much in the UK because I don’t think they exaggerate as much, but here in the US it would work, right?” (15:12)
• Aubrey agrees, encouraging learners in the US to use these expressions freely.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Lindsay, on American exaggeration:
  “In American culture, we have a tradition of exaggeration… To be able to have words to do that, to be able to exaggerate culturally, helps you fit in.” (14:54)

• Aubrey, on context:
  “It can mean annoying or that you really like it. Either way, you can say it drives you crazy.” (06:53)

• On how “crazy” adds color:
  Aubrey: “It was how crazy adds color to your English. Oh, that was a better title because it really does add color to what you’re saying.” (14:28)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & Episode Setup: 00:59–03:46
• “Crazy About”: 04:49–05:35
• “Like Crazy”: 05:48–06:19
• “Drive Someone Crazy”: 06:27–07:13
• “Go Crazy”: 07:13–07:49
• “Taking Crazy Pills”: 07:49–08:17
• Role Play & Breakdown: 10:18–13:48
• Cultural Note on Exaggeration: 14:54–15:26
• Closing Thoughts: 15:26–15:38

Conclusion

This episode provides practical, high-frequency American English idioms using “crazy,” equipping listeners with tools for more expressive speech. Through lively discussion, personal anecdotes, and tailored role play, Lindsay and Aubrey emphasize the importance of context, exaggeration, and connection—not perfection—in mastering these expressions.

For learners aiming to sound natural and make meaningful connections in American English, these expressions are invaluable—and as Lindsay puts it, “you’ll be crazy about this vocabulary!”