go ham

• go HAM, go H.A.M.

From go + ham. Exact origin unknown, but dates back to at least 1933 Broadway slang.

• IPA^(key): /ɡoʊ ˈhæm/
• Rhymes: -æm

go ham (third-person singular simple present goes ham, present participle going ham, simple past went ham, past participle gone ham)

1. To go crazy
   • 1933, Ben Hecht, Gene Fowler, The Great Magoo: A Love-sick Charade in Three Acts and Something Like Eight Scenes, Recounting the Didoes of Two Young and Amorous Souls, who Nigh Perished when They Weren't in the Hay Together:

     Don't go ham on me. Don't go ham. I'm the whole works, and you know it. I'm just carrying you.

2. To splurge, often used as part of a pun
   • 1977 06, “Popular Mechanics”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), page 109:

     One of the best reasons to go ham is the quiet hi-fi sound of radios used in the two-meter ham band.

   • 1996, The Reader's Digest:

     Go ham for the holidays!

3. (African-American Vernacular, MLE) (backronym) To go "hard as a motherfucker", variously intending
   1. (African-American Vernacular, MLE) To work extremely hard.
   2. (African-American Vernacular, MLE) To do an extremely good job.
   3. (African-American Vernacular, MLE) To go crazy.
   4. (African-American Vernacular, MLE) To lose one's temper, especially to rage at someone.
      • 2011 August, Jay-Z and Kanye West, “H•A•M”, Watch the Throne, deluxe edition, Roc-A-Fella Records:

        I'm about to go HAM / Hard as a muthafucker, let these niggas know who I am

      • 2014, Makala Thomas, Count Angelo, page 157:

        “Clover went in. And she's so calm and gentle normally! I didn't expect her to go ham like that. Will Patricia's arm mend?”
        “Not for a while.”
        “Serves her right. She went ham on me for no reason.”
        Angelo shrugged a shoulder. “She blames you for Marissa's state.”

      • 2014, Ms. Michel Moore, Coldhearted & Crazy: Say U Promise I:

        In between the guys in the crowd having to be told what was really good and now Ty acting like he owned her and her hustle, she went ham. “Main girl?” Kenya finally had enough of his ass. “Nigga, what? Please don't coach mines. You got me all fucked up in the game. Fall back and don't play yourself!”

      • 2016 September 14, “Splash & Cash”, MizorMac (lyrics), performed by 67 (R6 x ST) & Harlem (Bis x MizzorMac):

        My flats called Harlem darling
        Coz the place full of cats
        Feds go ham

The backronymic version of ham is not always known or understood due to the phrase being in use long before the song was recorded. As a result, go ham is typically viewed as far less offensive or vulgar than other expressions using motherfucker.

• (all): See go hard
• (go crazy): See Thesaurus:go crazy
• (lose one's temper): See Thesaurus:lose one's temper

• Ogham, Omagh, ogham