beside oneself, to be - To be distraught with worry, grief, anger, happiness, or some other strong emotion. The expression appears in the King James Version of the Bible (Acts 26:24): “Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning makes thee mad.” It uses the adverb “beside” in an older sense, meaning “outside of,” so literally the phrase means “outside of oneself,” the self in question being one’s mental faculties.
Similar Terms and Expressions 🗣️
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Lost in thought: Completely absorbed in one’s thoughts.
- Synonyms: Daydreaming, preoccupied
- Antonyms: Alert, attentive
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Out of sorts: Feeling unwell or upset.
- Synonyms: Unsettled, cranky
- Antonyms: Happy, content
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Walking on air: Extremely happy or elated.
- Synonyms: Over the moon, euphoric
- Antonyms: Down in the dumps, miserable
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Seeing red: Very angry.
- Synonyms: Livid, enraged
- Antonyms: Calm, collected
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Beside oneself with grief: Overcome with sorrow.
- Synonyms: Heartbroken, devastated
- Antonyms: Joyful, relieved
Proverbs 🌍
- “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty.” - Proverbs 16:32, Bible
- “A calm spirit is a tree of life.” - Proverbs 15:4, Bible
Humorous Quotes 😄
- “I’m sorry, did I roll my eyes out loud?” - Unknown
- “Sometimes you have to talk to yourself because during a work conversation you need expert advice.” - Anon
Suggested Literature 📚
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Elizabeth Bennet’s emotions often leave her “beside herself.”
- Hamlet by William Shakespeare - The titular character is frequently caught in intense emotional turmoil.
Recommended Songs 🎶
- “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin - A joyful tune for dealing with emotional extremes.
- “Mad World” by Tears for Fears - Captures a sense of being emotionally overwhelmed.
Must-Watch Movies 🎥
- Inside Out - A delightful exploration of strong emotions and how they affect us.
- The Pursuit of Happyness - A perfect example of being “beside oneself” with both joy and sorrow.
### Which of these is a related idiom?
- [x] Beside oneself with joy
- [ ] Dancing on the rainbow
- [ ] Tickling the pink elephants
- [ ] Running loops around feelings
> **Explanation:** "Beside oneself with joy" is a direct offshoot of the core idiom, adding a specific emotion. The others are just delightful nonsense!
### Which expression also suggests intense emotional experience?
- [ ] Sleeping with angels’ thoughts
- [x] Walking on air
- [ ] Climbing the thinking tree
- [ ] Having a lounge with unicorns
> **Explanation:** "Walking on air" perfectly captures an overwhelming sense of happiness, much like being "beside oneself."
### True or False: The phrase 'out of sorts' can mean feeling emotionally unbalanced
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** Absolutely true! "Out of sorts" is another idiom used to describe feeling unwell or upset, much like "beside oneself."
Remember, the emotional roller coaster of life is best enjoyed in the moment. Just don’t forget to scream!
