Pronunciation: [wɛnt lˈuːni] (IPA) 
The phrase "went loony" means someone went crazy or insane. The word "loony" is spelled with two syllables: /ˈluːni/. The first syllable, "loo," rhymes with "too" and has a long "o" sound. The second syllable, "ni," sounds like the word "knee." Together, the phonetic transcription for "loony" is /ˈluːni/ or "LOO-nee." So, if someone "went loony," their behavior has become strange or irrational.
The phrase "went loony" is an idiomatic expression that is colloquially used to describe someone's sudden or extreme change in behavior or mental state, often characterized by irrationality, eccentricity, or madness. It is typically employed to portray a person as having become unhinged, outrageous, or mentally deranged in a sudden or unexpected manner.
To expand on this definition, when someone "went loony," they experienced a significant alteration in their mental or emotional equilibrium, leading to a departure from their usual rational or balanced nature. It implies a temporary or transient state rather than a long-term condition. This phrase emphasizes the suddenness and intensity of the change, suggesting that the individual's behavior has become wild, unpredictable, or erratic.
The term "loony" itself is derived from the word "lunatic" and, therefore, suggests a certain association with the concept of lunacy, which historically referred to a form of mental illness associated with the phases of the moon. However, in modern usage, the phrase "went loony" is not typically associated with a clinical or medical diagnosis but rather describes a more general and informal sense of eccentric, crazy, or irrational behavior.
Overall, the expression "went loony" conveys the notion of a sudden and drastic mental shift, often accompanied by bizarre or irrational actions, causing the individual to appear temporarily out of touch with reality or exhibiting unusual behavior.
The phrase "went loony" is an expression that combines the word "went", the past tense of the verb "go", with "loony", a colloquial term meaning crazy or insane.
The word "loony" is derived from the noun "lunatic", which originally referred to someone who was mentally ill, specifically believed to be affected by the phases of the moon. In ancient times, people believed that changes in the moon's appearance had a direct impact on human behavior. "Lunatic" comes from the Latin word "lunaticus", which means "moonstruck" or "affected by the moon".
Over time, "loony" emerged as a shortened form of "lunatic", and it began to be used casually to describe eccentric or mentally unstable individuals.
