DCHP-2

snaky snakey DCHP-2 (July 2016)

• adj. — informal, slang, usually in the expression to go snaky

  out of control because of strong emotions.

  Type: 3. Semantic Change — This adjective has various meanings besides 'snake-like'. In the United States, the term may mean "wild" in reference to cows or horses, or it may mean "jittery" (see DARE, s.v. "snaky"). In Australia and New Zealand, the term means to become angry (see AND, s.v. "snaky", and DNZE, s.v. "snaky"). In Canada, however, the term is associated with loss of control over one's emotions. It is not necessarily associated with anger or nervousness, and in fact can be associated with positive emotions (see, e.g. the 1979 and 2001 quotations). The term appears to be most prevalent in Canada (see Chart 1).
  See also COD-2, s.v. "snaky - 'go snaky'", which is marked "Cdn" and defined as "lose (or cause someone to lose) self-control".