madcap
/'mædkæp/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Recklessly impulsive or rash: Characterized by a lack of careful thought, acting with sudden, energetic, and often foolish haste.
- Eccentrically lively or zany: Behaving in a wildly unconventional and exuberant manner.
Noun:
- A reckless, impulsive person: An individual who acts with sudden, careless enthusiasm, often ignoring danger or consequences.
Usage and Examples
Adjective:
- The madcap scheme to cross the ocean in a bathtub was doomed from the start.
- Her madcap sense of humor always kept the party lively.
Noun:
- He was known as a madcap, always diving into new adventures without a second thought.
- The old film starred a lovable madcap who caused chaos wherever he went.
Advanced Usage
- Used attributively to describe plans, adventures, or behavior that are wildly impulsive and unconventional.
- The company was known for its madcap advertising stunts that captured public attention.
Variants and Related Words
- Madcap can function as both an adjective and a noun without changing form.
- Madcappery (noun, rare): Recklessly impulsive behavior or acts.
- The evening was full of hilarious madcappery.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Reckless, impulsive, rash, foolhardy, harebrained, zany, wild.
- Noun: Daredevil, hothead, lunatic (informal), eccentric.
Antonyms
- Adjective: Cautious, prudent, sensible, deliberate, thoughtful.
- Noun: Conservative, stick-in-the-mud, cautious person.
Idioms and Phrases
- While "madcap" itself is not typically part of a larger idiom, it is synonymous with the spirit of phrases like:
- To throw caution to the wind: To act recklessly.
- They threw caution to the wind with a madcap road trip across the country.
Adjective
- characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation; (`brainish' is archaic)
- a hotheaded decision
- liable to such impulsive acts as hugging strangers
- an impetuous display of spending and gambling
- madcap escapades
Noun
- a reckless impetuous irresponsible person