DCHP-3

snaky

DCHP-2 (Feb 2013)

Spelling variants:
snakey

adj. — informal, slang, usually in the expression to go snaky

out of control because of strong emotions.

Type: 3. Semantic Change — This adjective has various meanings besides 'snake-like'. In the United States, the term may mean "wild" in reference to cows or horses, or it may mean "jittery" (see DARE, s.v. "snaky"). In Australia and New Zealand, the term means to become angry (see AND, s.v. "snaky", and DNZE, s.v. "snaky"). In Canada, however, the term is associated with loss of control over one's emotions. It is not necessarily associated with anger or nervousness, and in fact can be associated with positive emotions (see, e.g. the 1979 and 2001 quotations). The term appears to be most prevalent in Canada (see Chart 1).
See also COD-2, s.v. "snaky - 'go snaky'", which is marked "Cdn" and defined as "lose (or cause someone to lose) self-control".

Quotations

1979
He does it because first, it is the most effective way to squeeze maximum sound out of his instrument and second, it drives his audiences snaky.
1989
Policeman Carlton Whitworth has been fired for going a little snaky with his gun.
1999
Can You Spell "Melt-Down"? anybody see Roger Neilson's freakout against St. Louis? Eric Lindros gets thumbed for a two-handed slash that broke his stick and Neilson goes completely snaky.
2001
It was called the P1800, it was drop-dead gorgeous and was driven in a TV series called The Saint, starring Roger Moore. Ancient history, I know. But as my eldest turns 18 (gasp), it's a time to reflect and reminisce. Volvo is at it again. It's not cranking out two-seaters yet, although there are those of us who would go seriously snaky if it ever did a retro version of the P1800, but the S-words have re-entered the Volvo lexicon.
2012
"I'd seen Jean out of the corner of my eye in a scrum along the boards and I just gave him a little jab, a short pop. Nothing much. He probably thought I was nuts. And then Fergy went just snaky and I thought, 'Holy (expletive), what have I done?' "
2016
You must have seen the episode of the Big Bang Theory when Sheldon went snaky over the placement of the ingredients on his sandwich, if you let them sit, lettuce will go soggy, mayo and sauces can also make the bread mushy, a coating of butter or margarine does create a barrier.

References

  • DARE
  • COD-2
  • AND
  • DNZE

Images

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 15 Oct. 2012

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 15 Oct. 2012