“Madder than a box of frogs” (very mad)
Frogs like to jump—something they can’t do much of in a box. “Mad as a box of frogs” means to be very mad.
“Mad as a box of frogs” was printed in mixmag (London, UK) on October 1, 1997. “MUST DO: Be mad as a box of frogs” was printed in The Sun (London, UK) on November 14, 1997. “Madder than a box of frogs” was printed in mixmag (London, UK) on May 1, 1998.
1 October 1997, mixmag (London, UK), “Club Sandwich,” pg. 191, col. 3:
What was rocking? Tayo the ressie, freestylers live complete with breakers and the crowd—mad as a box of frogs.
14 November 1997, The Sun (London, UK), “The Vibe,” pg. 1:
MUST DO: Be mad as a box of frogs.
1 May 1998, mixmag (London, UK), “Five Star Clubbing: Retro, Angels, Burnley” by Mark White, pg. 43, col. 1:
... or back on the main floor dancing to guest Rob Tissera—it’s madder than a box of frogs.
7 May 1999, The Independent (London, UK), “Arts: Comedy: A different box of frogs Harry Hill Corn Exchange Cambridge” by James Rampton, pg. 10:
So it’s meant as a compliment when I say that Harry Hill is as mad as a box of frogs.
1 November 1999, mixmag (London, UK), “Country Club: Scotland,” pg. 175, col. 1:
Every week resident Colin Tevendale, Mark Stuart and Johnny Fraser play pumping house and power trance to a crowd as mad as a box of frogs.
17 March 2000, The Independent (London, UK), “Film” by Anthony Quinn, pg. 10:
Rien Sur Robert is a remarkably irritating French comedy about a Parisian writer (Fabrice Luchini) who is romantically torn between his appalling girlfriend Juliette and another woman, Aurelie, who is mad as a box of frogs.
Urban Dictionary
Mad as a box of frogs
Very mad, but typically refers to someone in the public eye. Of course, as the very idea of putting frogs in a box is eccentric to say the least, one who is very mad can be said to be; As mad as a box of frogs
That Ronan Keating - He’s as mad as a box of frogs.
by Tanky November 08, 2003
Google Books
M.E., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia:
The Reverse Therapy Approach
By John Eaton
Hertford Authors OnLine
2006
Pg. 96:
“As mad as a box of frogs’ my youngest muttered under her breath…
Urban Dictionary
box of frogs
Denotes lack of sanity in large quantity.
You’re as mad as a box of frogs.
#mad#crazy#hatter#nuts#squirrels
by GjjG April 26, 2006
Urban Dictionary
BOX OF FROGS
A term meaning temporary insanity in situation or conduct.
(...).
#frogs#box#madder#crazy#insane
by crashmctavish November 16, 2006
Twitter
Yoz Grahame
@yoz
Replying to @perrywald
@waldp: Thanks for sharing Israel’s Eurovision entry. It’s madder than a box of frogs. http://tinyurl.com/3xdxtf
2:41 PM - 10 May 2007
Twitter
Matt
@mholland
It’s official James Bayliss is mad as a box of frogs
11:34 AM - 26 Aug 2007
Google Books
n a Manner of Speaking:
Phrases, Expressions, and Proverbs and How We Use and Misuse Them
By Colin McNairn
New York, NY: Simon and Schuster
2015
Pg. ?:
The choice of expressions playing upon a supposed collective madness include; “mad as a bag of ferrets,” “mad as a box of frogs,” “mad as a bag of badgers” and “mad as a sack of weasels.”
Twitter
Rosemarie Kelly
@rosemarie_kelly
Replying to @Channel4News
Madder than a box of frogs. Who the feck voted for them?
3:05 AM - 27 May 2019