Go postal
Meaning
To become extremely and uncontrollably angry, often resulting in violent behavior.
Origin
The phrase "go postal" emerged in the United States in the late 20th century, a chilling reference to a series of high-profile workplace shootings that tragically occurred at U.S. Post Office facilities. From the mid-1980s through the 1990s, numerous incidents saw postal workers, reportedly under immense stress or experiencing mental health crises, snap and commit acts of extreme violence against colleagues or supervisors. The sheer frequency and public nature of these events burned the term into the national consciousness, quickly becoming a grim shorthand for suddenly and violently losing one's temper, particularly in a work-related context.
Examples
- After a week of relentless deadlines and demanding clients, she felt like she was about to go postal on her uncooperative printer.
- The disgruntled employee threatened to go postal if his severance package wasn't significantly improved.