frankly crazy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "frankly crazy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express an honest opinion about something that seems irrational or absurd. Example: "The idea of running a marathon without any training is frankly crazy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

In general, the idea that Schotty is a problem for the Jets is, frankly, crazy.

The New Yorker

"The all-day waiting period is, quite frankly, crazy," she said.

The New York Times

It was frankly crazy.

Science Magazine

In pure economic terms, reducing spending at a time when people are looking for work is counter-productive and, frankly, crazy.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"The country is running out of gas, and without some form of energy development, we're going to end up importing all of our fuel from overseas, and we've seen that just last week with the ridiculous situation where Scotland is importing shale gas from America, which frankly is crazy".

The Guardian

"This year, frankly, the crazies in the Republican conference have made it this hot-button political issue," an aide to an influential House Democrat told HuffPost.

Huffington Post

And frankly, it blew crazy right out of the water.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Which frankly, is just crazy.

TechCrunch

I must say that when I read Donny's letter it seemed irrational and frankly, a bit crazy, to me.

Huffington Post

William Levy is demonstrating how versatile (and quite frankly a little crazy) he can get to be with a new Pepsi Next ad campaign.

Huffington Post

Frankly you've be crazy not to want to dress like this.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "frankly crazy" to express a candid opinion that something is illogical or absurd. It adds a touch of informality while still maintaining a degree of professionalism in your writing.

Common error

While "frankly crazy" is generally acceptable, avoid overuse in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for alternatives like "utterly absurd" or "patently ridiculous" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "frankly crazy" functions as an evaluative expression, combining an adverb of manner (frankly) with an adjective (crazy) to convey a speaker's candid and negative assessment of something. As Ludwig AI also suggests, the phrase expresses an honest opinion about something that seems irrational or absurd.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science & Research

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "frankly crazy" combines directness with a touch of informality to express strong disagreement or disbelief. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a grammatically correct expression suitable for neutral contexts like news and media. While alternatives like "utterly absurd" or "downright insane" exist, "frankly crazy" offers a balance between candor and approachability. When using this phrase, consider your audience and the level of formality required, avoiding overuse in highly academic or professional settings. The phrase is used across different sources, although it remains relatively uncommon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly absurd

Replaces "frankly" with a more formal adverb and "crazy" with a synonym emphasizing the lack of reason.

absolutely ludicrous

Emphasizes the ridiculous nature of something, offering a slightly stronger tone than the original phrase.

patently ridiculous

Highlights the obviousness of the absurdity, suggesting it's easily apparent to anyone.

downright insane

Replaces "crazy" with a stronger term, "insane", to amplify the sense of irrationality.

plain bonkers

Uses a more informal and British-slang term, "bonkers", for a less serious tone.

quite preposterous

Adopts a more formal and somewhat old-fashioned tone to express disbelief.

genuinely daft

Replaces "crazy" with "daft", implying foolishness or silliness.

simply mad

Uses "mad" as a direct synonym for "crazy", keeping the phrase concise and impactful.

blatantly foolish

Replaces "crazy" with "foolish", highlighting a lack of good judgment.

honestly unbelievable

Shifts the focus to the incredulity the speaker feels, rather than directly labeling something as crazy.

FAQs

How can I use "frankly crazy" in a sentence?

"Frankly crazy" is used to express strong disagreement or disbelief, implying something is illogical. For example: "The suggestion to cut funding for education is, "frankly crazy"."

What are some alternatives to "frankly crazy"?

Alternatives include "utterly absurd", "absolutely ludicrous", or "downright insane", depending on the level of formality and emphasis you want to convey.

Is "frankly crazy" appropriate for formal writing?

While "frankly crazy" is generally understood, it's more suitable for informal or semi-formal contexts. For formal writing, consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "patently ridiculous" or "quite preposterous".

What does "frankly crazy" imply?

It implies that something is not only illogical but also that the speaker is being direct and honest in their assessment. The "frankly" adds emphasis to the "crazy", making it a stronger statement.