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Plum crazy or not???

Posted by Platypus on July 22, 2004

In Reply to: Plum crazy or not??? posted by Lotg (OZ) on July 22, 2004

: I've often heard in American movies, the guy from out of town could use a term like 'plum crazy'. This use of the word 'plum' is quite different to say 'plum job'.

: If someone does a 'plum job', then it's a good job. But if someone's 'plum crazy', then he's really crazy.

: I would assume the use of 'plum' in plum job is of English origin. However, the 'plum crazy' version sounds US based to me.

: Can anyone clarify both the basis for the term 'plum crazy' and the origin of using the word 'plum' to describe something as being 'very or really' whatever?

Not. You've been caught on the wrong side of a homophone. It's not "plum crazy" it's "plumb crazy". An informal meaning of "plum" is excellent, hence, "plum job". The plum(b) to which you refer in "plum(b) crazy" relates to a plumb bob. It's a carpenter's tool, a small weight tied to a string used for measuring. As a plumb Bob points downright to absolute center, it's informal meaning is downright or absolute. He is plumb crazy.

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