When talking about being overcome with emotions, both good and bad, we have a somewhat strange expression to describe that situation: to be beside yourself. So, if I say I am beside myself with joy, I am filled with joy! However, I can also be beside myself with sadness, anger, or any other emotions. The expression is useful and simple, but queer. It sounds as if someone has become two people. How can you be next to yourself? Being “beside yourself” is technically impossible.
In American English, you can simply say “I’m beside myself ” to mean you are very upset. For example, if you have a bad quarrel with a close friend, you might be beside yourself. You might shout, write an angry letter to your friend, or just go somewhere by yourself and cry. Here’s another situation. A high school student applies to several colleges. If all her applications are refused, she could be beside herself. She might stay up all night worrying about what to do next.
If a person becomes seriously ill, he could start talking in a way that does not make any sense. The patient may also start behaving strangely, walking around the room—back and forth. A doctor might say, “He is beside himself.”
We have another expression that is very similar to “being beside yourself”. We can also be “out of our minds”. We use this expression in the same way we use “beside oneself”. So we can be out of our minds with fear, with love, with happiness, or with any other emotions. And just like “beside oneself”. We also use this expression on its own without a specific emotion. So, if someone says or does something crazy—like learning how to ride a motorcycle on a dark, rainy night, you can simply say, “She is out of her mind!” You could also say the person is crazy or has lost her mind.
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4. Where is this passage probably taken from ______?
A.A science report | B.A news story. |
C.A language website. | D.A travel journal. |
5. How will you feel when saying “I’m beside myself” in US English?
A.Excited. | B.Unhappy. | C.Relaxed. | D.Frightened. |
6. How does the author explain the usage of “beside oneself”?
A.By asking questions. | B.By telling stories. |
C.By giving examples. | D.By listing data. |
7. What does the fourth paragraph mainly talk about?
A.The usage of the phrase “out of one’s mind”. | B.The difference between the two expressions. |
C.An example about “being beside yourself ”. | D.More expressions about different feelings. |