mass hysteria
11
6.1
- noun
- /mæs hɪˈstɛrɪə/
:
histeria colectiva
- The crowd's sudden panic during the concert turned into mass hysteria as people rushed for the exits.
- cause mass hysteria
- case of mass hysteria
- create mass hysteria
Well, the world is in the middle of mass hysteria and panic for some people right now.
- Well, the world is in the middle of mass hysteria and panic for some people right now.
- We don't know what they're thinking and our interpretation of the video causes mass hysteria oftentimes.
- If you wear them, you're a sheep that follows the mass control, the mass hysteria of an authoritarian regime.
- And I'm not trying to say, hey, 'cause mass hysteria, but open the discussion in your communities.
- And I I spoke to Doctor Bartholomew who who brought Co wrote a book about Tawana syndrome being mass hysteria.
Examples
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Mass hysteria has hit London.
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I'm sorry, Sergeant, but I cannot be swayed by mass hysteria.
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Are you familiar with mass hysteria?
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Then how can you possibly do anything else without causing mass hysteria?
Blog text (34) -
Well, the world is in the middle of mass hysteria and panic for some people right now.
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Some thought it a genuine move of God; others thought it was mass hysteria.
Academic text (2004) -
It's, uh, disturbing, but it's fascinating to see this kind of mass hysteria in action.
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Mass hysteria has gripped the nation as people ask: Where do they come from, will they be back?
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Even casual strangers caught up in the mass hysteria of this incredible multitude.
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The disconnect going on is a form of mass hysteria masquerading as "everything is normal."
Blog text (12)
Synonyms
394
2.7
A sudden strong feeling of fear that makes you lose control
136
4.9
A state of wild, uncontrolled excitement or activity
82
6.1
An extreme, uncontrolled feeling of fear or excitement
14
5.9
A sudden time when someone cannot stop crying or laughing
A large group of people suddenly become very afraid and act without thinking, spreading quickly
Antonyms
How Panicked
Surface Forms
Morphology
Both constituents contribute directly to the meaning: 'mass' specifies a large group and 'hysteria' denotes extreme uncontrolled emotional reaction, so the phrase simply denotes hysteria occurring on a large scale. This is a compositional, cross-linguistically common pattern and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the two words.
Etymology
Mass hysteria may come from the image of a large crowd (mass) catching the same wild feeling (hysteria) that spreads from person to person like a wave. That's why it means many people suddenly sharing the same strong, often 'panic' feeling and behaving in an out-of-control way.