gonzo

(gŏn'zō)
adj. Slang

1. Using an exaggerated, highly subjective style, especially in journalism: "a hyperkinetic, gonzo version of Graham Greene" (New Yorker).
2. Bizarre; unconventional.

[Perhaps Italian, simpleton (perhaps short for Borgonzone, Burgundian) or Spanish ganso, dullard, goose (of Germanic origin).]

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[from Hunter S. Thompson]

1. With total commitment, total concentration, and a mad sort of panache. (Thompson's original sense.)

2. More loosely: Overwhelming; outrageous; over the top; very large, esp. used of collections of source code, source files, or individual functions. Has some of the connotations of moby and hairy, but without the implication of obscurity or complexity.

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1. n. a silly or foolish person.  Some gonzo is on the phone asking for the president of the universe.
2. mod. crazy.  Who drew this gonzo picture of me?

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noun
noun

1: Of or being a type of committed, subjective journalism characterized by factual distortion and exaggerated rhetorical style. (1971 —) .

2: Bizarre, crazy; far-fetched. (1974 —) .
New Yorker He has a small, weird triumph with his gonzo psycho docudrama (1985).

3: (A writer of) gonzo journalism. (1972 —) .

4: A crazy person, a fool. (1977 —) .
Custom Car To make sure I wouldn't make too big a gonzo of myself...I was connected by intercom to the commander who was perched up in the turret (1977).

[Prob. from Italian gonzo fool(ish) (perh. from Italian Borgonzone Burgundian) or Spanish ganso goose, fool.]

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For a list of words related to gonzo, see:

• Excessive, Mad, Insane, or Radical

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See words rhyming with "gonzo."

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