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Glite Dictionary
to kee siao

to kee siao

9.9
To act in a loud, wild, and foolish way
  • phrasal verb
  • Slang
translation icon : comportarse de manera loca
  • When she heard the good news, she started to kee siao in the middle of the street.

Examples

  • Whenever he wins a game, he tends to kee siao and shout all around the house.

  • Don’t kee siao at the office party—remember your boss is watching!

  • Don't kee siao at the party!

  • She always kees siao when she's excited.

  • Don’t kee siao at the office party—remember your boss is watching!

  • When she heard the good news, she started to kee siao in the middle of the street.

  • Whenever he wins a game, he tends to kee siao and shout all around the house.

Synonyms

to ang kong siao
vsto kee siao
  • Slang
9.9

To become very upset and act without control

describes wild or eccentric behaviour not caused by sudden upset

Antonyms

normally
884 1.0

In the usual way that people expect

sensibly
15 3.7

In a way that shows good judgment and practical choices

How Crazy

to go berserk
  • Informal
27 7.7
to run wild
33 3.9
to kee siao
  • Slang
9.9
to be silly
88 2.1

Surface Forms

kee siao infinitive
kee siaoed past
kee siaoed past participle
kee siaoing present participle
kee siaos third person singular

Morphology

kee + siao

The expression is a Singlish loan from Chinese dialect(s) (e.g., Hokkien/Teochew) and its constituents 'kee' and 'siao' are not English words with meanings a B1 learner would know. Because the parts are non‑English and the overall sense is idiomatic in Singaporean English, the meaning ('behave crazily') cannot be derived from the listed constituents by a typical B1 learner.

Etymology

The verb kee siao comes from old Chinese words kee ('to go/do') and siao ('crazy'), and one popular story shows someone running and shouting in public. So, when people say kee siao today it means 'to behave wildly or foolishly'.