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have a cow. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
have a cow, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
have a cow in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
have a cow you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
Unknown. Popularized by the TV show The Simpsons where it was one of the catchphrases of Bart Simpson.
Pronunciation
Verb
have a cow (third-person singular simple present has a cow, present participle having a cow, simple past and past participle had a cow)
- (slang) To get angry; have a fit.
1959 April 1, The Des Moines Register, page 9:Dad says I'm too young to go steady and seems to think I'm going to drag a girl up the aisle instead of to a school dance. He won't let me watch rock 'n' roll shows, and he'd "have a cow" if he knew I watched 77 Sunset Strip.
2007, Julia Spencer-Fleming, In the Bleak Midwinter: A Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mystery, St. Martin's Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 69:“Pregnant. Holy shit.” “Alyson!” “Oh, Mummy, don't have a cow.”
2014, Susan Mallery, THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER, Harlequin, →ISBN, page 115:“Dammit, Kayla, you're pregnant. Don't pick up a suitcase,” her husband demanded. “It's just a little one.” “Put it down now.” “Don't have a cow, Patrick. I'm pregnant, not incapacitated.”
- My mom had a cow when I came in late.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see have, a, cow.
See also