like a man possessed
1
7.6
- idiom
- Informal
:
como un loco
- Well, he's driving like a man possessed.
Examples
-
Chavez is playing like a man possessed.
-
Mad Dog fighting like a man possessed.
-
She danced like a man possessed, pouring all her energy into every movement.
-
He played the guitar like a man possessed, captivating everyone in the room.
-
The athlete ran like a man possessed, determined to finish the race in record time.
Synonyms
104
2.9
In a way that is not controlled and shows strong feeling
75
7.9
Happening very quickly, with great effort or very strongly
13
8.1
Act very quickly and with great effort
8
7.9
In a very wild and excited way without control
8
8.2
Very quickly and with great energy
8
3.0
In a lively and eager way
4
7.4
To do something with great energy and effort
2
7.2
With very high energy and little control
1
5.6
A time when excitement or tension is very high
1
8.4
With very strong energy that makes someone act quickly
With very strong, uncontrolled energy and effort
In a way that shows great energy, speed, or skill
In a way that is extremely intense and unreasonable
In a wild, fast way with little control
In a very energetic and excited way
Full of lively energy because people feel excited
Antonyms
How Intense
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase literally compares someone's behaviour to 'a man possessed' — if a learner knows 'like' and 'possessed' (controlled or strongly influenced), they can infer a sense of being driven, frantic or intensely focused. However the meaning is metaphorical and conventionalized (and 'possessed' can carry cultural/religious nuances), so the exact pragmatic force ('frantic urgency/energy') is not fully predictable from the parts alone.
Etymology
Like a man possessed comes from the image of a man who is 'possessed' by a spirit and acts without control, moving with wild, unstoppable energy. So, saying someone does something like a man possessed means they do it with very strong, urgent focus as if something else is driving them.