The phrase around the bend has two main meanings in English:
- Literally, it means in close proximity to another location, especially when traveling by car or on a road that has a curve or corner. For example, “The store isn’t far from here, it’s just around the bend.” This meaning is often used to describe the distance or direction of a place that is not visible from the current position, but can be reached by following the road or path. For example, “You can’t see it from here, but the beach is up around the bend.”
- Figuratively, it means mentally confused or unable to act in a reasonable way, or in other words, crazy or insane. For example, “Throwing out that perfectly good steak? Have you gone round the bend?” This meaning is a colloquial expression that originated in the early 1900s, and it may imply that someone has lost their sanity or rationality due to being isolated, stressed, or bored. For example, “I’ll end up going round the bend if I have to work in this cubicle for one more day!” This meaning may also be used to describe someone who is intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. For example, “She was round the bend last night, and, man, is her head killing her today.”
The phrase around the bend can be used interchangeably with round the bend, as both are informal idioms that convey the same meanings. However, some sources suggest that around the bend is more common in American English, while round the bend is more common in British English. The phrase can also be modified by adding words like completely, totally, or absolutely to emphasize the degree of craziness or intoxication. For example, “He’s completely around the bend, he thinks he can fly.”
The origin of the phrase around the bend is not clear, but some possible explanations are:
- It may be related to the idea of being out of sight or out of touch with reality, as someone who is around the bend is not visible or reachable by those who are following the road behind.
- It may be derived from the slang term bend, which means a spree or a binge, especially of drinking or gambling. Therefore, someone who is around the bend may have indulged in excessive or reckless behavior that affected their mental state.
- It may be influenced by the phrase around the twist, which is another idiom that means crazy or insane, and has a similar sound and structure.
