IdiomThe Absurd
English
Englishhave bats in one's belfry
Meaning: Harmlessly crazy or eccentric.
Example: “The old man who talks to pigeons may have bats in his belfry, but he's kind.”
Origin: A belfry is the tower of a church where the bell hangs, and is analogous to one's head. If a person has room for bats in his head, his head is full of space rather than brains.
More English idioms
- beat a hasty retreat To run very fast in the opposite direction.
- beat someone to the punch To do something before someone else does it.
- behind the eight ball In a difficult situation or position.
- hit someone below the belt To act unfairly.
- beside oneself Distraught; very anxious and troubled.
- beside the point Irrelevant.
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Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.
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