Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

the lunatics have taken over the asylum

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.93 in modern English

Syllables
the lu-natic-s have -tak-en over the a-sy-lum
IPA
59
Scrabble Score
33
Letters
7
Syllables
16
Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

Said of a situation in which those in charge are incapable of handling their responsibilities, and should rather be put under scrutiny themselves.

Example Sentences

Etymology

Said to originate in a 1919 remark by Richard A. Rowland about the founding of United Artists. Perhaps an allusion to the short story by Edgar Allan Poe, The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether, first published 1845.

Inflected Forms

inmates have taken over the asylum (alternative) inmates running the asylum (alternative) inmates taking over the asylum (alternative) lunatics have taken over the asylum (alternative) lunatics running the asylum (alternative) lunatics taking over the asylum (alternative)

Questions

What does the lunatics have taken over the asylum mean?
Said of a situation in which those in charge are incapable of handling their responsibilities, and should rather be put under scrutiny themselves.
Where does the lunatics have taken over the asylum come from?
Said to originate in a 1919 remark by Richard A. Rowland about the founding of United Artists. Perhaps an allusion to the short story by Edgar Allan Poe, The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether, first published 1845.

How to pronounce the lunatics have taken over the asylum

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