'Going Spare'

Hi, what does this phrase mean?

I heard Ringo in the movie Help! say "She went spare on me hand" Ringo was wearing a huge ring on his finger & this woman was trying everything to take the ring off while he was sleeping

Re: 'Going Spare'

As I understand it it means "going into a frenzy of rage".

Re: 'Going Spare'

Ha ha! Thanks Alan!

Re: 'Going Spare'

That strikes me as a good definition Alan. No-one seems able to agree where it came from though.

Re: 'Going Spare'

Yes, Alan seems to be correct, as this link shows...

http://www.word-detective.com/2009/0...-nut-go-spare/

Regards. Malc.

Re: 'Going Spare'

That expression was used here too, back in the 60's, never hear it anymore now.
Haven't the Americans got a saying meaning the same thing 'Going Ape'?

Re: 'Going Spare'

Ha ha, that's old too. Well this was a 50 year old movie I was watching (gulp).

Re: 'Going Spare'

Going Spare may be a generalization for anything an opportunist takes advantage of, don't quote me on that though.

Re: 'Going Spare'

Ok we won't quote you

Re: 'Going Spare'

same as "throwing ones rattle out of the pram". =Getting into a temper because of not getting what one wants immediately