# Where did I get this phrase?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-i-get-this-phrase/844160>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 29, 2019, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-i-get-this-phrase/844160 "2019-11-29T06:08:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-i-get-this-phrase/844160/1 "2019-11-29T06:08:26Z")

</div>

“Mad as a hen wetter” or was it “Madder than a hen wetter”?

I’m **NOT** talking about a wet hen.

Was it a Nanny Oggism?

😕

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-i-get-this-phrase/844160/2 "2019-11-29T06:56:16Z")

</div>

Mad as a Hatter?  
Wasn’t there a chemical they used in making of hats for men that made them go insane?  
Or the Mad Hatter from ‘Alice in Wonderland?’

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-i-get-this-phrase/844160/3 "2019-11-29T09:20:11Z")

</div>

> [@Beckdawrek](#):
>
> Mad as a Hatter?  
> Wasn’t there a chemical they used in making of hats for men that made them go insane?  
> Or the Mad Hatter from ‘Alice in Wonderland?’

Mercurous nitrate (HgNO3), used in curing felt gave off mercury vapour.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-i-get-this-phrase/844160/4 "2019-11-29T12:05:08Z")

</div>

> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#):
>
> Where did I get this phrase?

From a [1988 _Bloom County_ comic strip](https://www.gocomics.com/bloomcounty/1988/01/25).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-i-get-this-phrase/844160/5 "2019-11-29T13:54:29Z")

</div>

> [@Kimstu](#):
>
> From a [1988 _Bloom County_ comic strip](https://www.gocomics.com/bloomcounty/1988/01/25).

Thank you.