(a) method in (one's) madness

A specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may appear crazy or absurd to another person. The phrase originated in Shakespeare's Hamlet: "Though this be madness, yet there is method in it." You may have method in your madness, but these radical changes to the business could still prove catastrophic. I know you don't understand my motivation for this decision, but after the dust settles you'll see that there is a method in my madness. Now that he's started pushing these wild ideas, I sure hope there's a method in his madness—otherwise, he'll be a laughingstock.

See also: madness, method

(a) method to (one's) madness

A specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may appear crazy or absurd to another person. The phrase originated in Shakespeare's Hamlet: "Though this be madness, yet there is method in it." You may have method to your madness, but these radical changes to the business could still prove catastrophic. I know you don't understand my motivation for this decision, but after the dust settles you'll see that there is a method to my madness. Now that he's started pushing these wild ideas, I sure hope there's a method to his madness—otherwise, he'll be a laughingstock.

have (a) method in (one's) madness

To have a specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may seem crazy or absurd to another person. I know you don't understand my motivation for this decision, but after the dust settles, you'll see that I have a method in my madness. You may have method in your madness, but these radical changes to the business could still prove catastrophic. He may seem scattered and disorganized, but I guarantee he has a method in his madness.

have (a) method to (one's) madness

To have a specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may seem crazy or absurd to another person. I know you don't understand my motivation for this decision, but after the dust settles, you'll see that I have a method to my madness. You may have method to your madness, but these radical changes to the business could still prove catastrophic. He may seem scattered and disorganized, but I guarantee he has a method to his madness.

method in (one's) madness

A specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may seem crazy or absurd to another person. Originated in Shakespeare's Hamlet: "Though this be madness, yet there is method in it." He may seem scattered and disorganized, but I guarantee there's a method in his madness.

See also: madness, method

that way lies madness

To engage in a mentioned activity will make one feel crazy, depressed, or anxious. When we're feeling dejected or disappointed, it's always tempting to fixate on what might have happened in our lives, had we made different choices, but let me tell you: that way lies madness.

See also: lie, madness, that, way

that way madness lies

See also: lie, madness, that, way

there is (a) method in (one's) madness

There is a specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may seem crazy or absurd to another person. I know you don't understand my motivation for this decision, but after the dust settles you'll see that there is a method in my madness. You may have method in your madness, but these radical changes to the business could still prove catastrophic.

there is (a) method to (one's) madness

There is a specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may seem crazy or absurd to another person. I know you don't understand my motivation for this decision, but after the dust settles, you'll see that there is a method to my madness. There may be method to your madness, but these radical changes to the business could still prove catastrophic.

*method in one's madness

Fig. a purpose in what one is doing, even though it seems to be crazy. (*Typically: be ~; have ~.) What I'm doing may look strange, but there is method in my madness. Wait until she finishes; then you'll see that she has method in her madness.

See also: madness, method

method in one's madness

An underlying purpose in crazy behavior, as in Harry takes seemingly random trips around the country but there's method to his madness-he's checking on real estate values . This expression comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet (2:2): "Though this be madness, yet there is method in it." For a modern equivalent, see crazy like a fox.

See also: madness, method

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

that way madness lies

that way lies madness

People say that way madness lies or that way lies madness to mean that doing a particular thing will cause you to go crazy. I've given up trying to tidy up after him. That way madness lies. Lie to anyone you want, but don't lie to yourself. That way lies madness. Note: People also say this way madness lies or this way lies madness. I keep thinking about Richard, and this way lies madness.

See also: lie, madness, that, way

there is method in someone's madness

If you say there is method in someone's madness, you mean that although what they do seems strange, they have a good reason for doing it. Of course, there's method in her madness because an empty fridge means I have to take her out to dinner. Note: People also say there is method in the madness. This sounds like pointless technology, but there is method in the madness.

that way madness lies

it is ill-advised to pursue a particular course of action as it will cause distress or anxiety.

This phrase is a quotation from King Lear, taken from the speech in which Lear shies away from contemplating the ingratitude of his daughters Regan and Goneril.

See also: lie, madness, that, way

there is method in someone's madness

there is a sensible foundation for what appears to be foolish or strange behaviour.

This expression comes from the scene in Hamlet in which Hamlet feigns madness, causing Polonius to remark: ‘Though this be madness, yet there is method in't’.

there’s ˌmethod in somebody’s ˈmadness

there is a reason for your behaviour and it is not as strange or as stupid as it seems: ‘Why do you always read your newspaper backwards?’ ‘Ah, there’s method in my madness — the back pages are where the sport is.’This comes from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet: ‘Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t (= in it).’

See also: madness, method

method in one's madness, there is

There is an underlying purpose in crazy behavior. Shakespeare was hardly the first person to make this observation, but his statement of it in Hamlet (2.2) gave rise to the modern locution (“Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t”). It was probably already a cliché by the time G. K. Chesterton played on it (The Fad of the Fisherman, 1922): “There nearly always is method in madness. It’s what drives men mad, being methodical!”

method to one's madness

Do things in an unorthodox fashion, yet nevertheless achieve the intended result. Yet again Shakespeare's Hamlet provided a phrase that was picked up and used through the ages. Having observed Hamlet rave on in what appeared to be senseless sentences, Polonious makes a comment that turns out to be true: “Though this be madness, yet there is method in't.” Under less dramatic circumstances, the phrase applies to getting the right outcome by what seems to be the wrong method, and we've all done that.