maniac

Word family

ma·ni·ac /ˈmeɪniæk/ noun [countableC]

1 informalCRAZY someone who behaves in a stupid or dangerous way 举止愚蠢[危险]的人，疯子 SYN lunatic

He drove like a maniac to the hospital.

他像个疯子似的开车去医院。

Suddenly this maniac ran out into the middle of the road.

突然这个疯子跑到路当中。

2 religious/sex maniac informalOBSESSION someone who you think is too involved or interested in religion or sex 宗教狂/性欲狂 SYN freak

The woman’s a sex maniac if you ask me.

要我说，那个女人是性欲狂。

3 someone who is mentally ill 精神病患者

homicidal maniac (=someone who kills people) 杀人狂

Examples from the Corpus

maniac• He drives like a maniac.• The occupant of the stolen car was driving like a maniac.• I was running around the dance floor like a maniac.• I signed it without speaking, incredibly delighted, grinning like a maniac.• I had to calm down, and not lurch around in traffic like a maniac.• He was one of those smiling gloomy maniacs.• He didn't smile, or laugh like maniacs are supposed to.• Scientists on the other side were maniacs, to a man.

like a maniac• Jim had his foot on the floor, swinging around potholes, driving like a maniac.• She packed her bag together and drove like a maniac to the mikva.• I was running around the dance floor like a maniac.• I signed it without speaking, incredibly delighted, grinning like a maniac.• Just as the train pulled out of the station a lorry load of soldiers drove in like maniacs.• He didn't smile, or laugh like maniacs are supposed to.• I looked like a maniac, of course, with my hair all wet, my shoes sopping.• I had to calm down, and not lurch around in traffic like a maniac.

homicidal maniac• Even if he is murdered by a homicidal maniac he has chosen to be at a certain place at a certain time.• Kerns is Sara Rayner, whose orderly little life comes apart when she is attacked and raped by a homicidal maniac.• But none as far as I know is a homicidal maniac.• Could be a concerned taxpayer, a homicidal maniac, some trial lawyer.• a homicidal maniac

Origin maniac

(1500-1600) Late Latin maniacus, from Greek maniakos, from mania; → MANIA

ma·ni·ac noun

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus