have bats in one's belfry: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  generalliteralneutral
  • To have bats roosting in the belfry of a tower or roof space.

  Examples

  Beta

  • The old church was known to have bats in its belfry, causing mysterious noises at night.

    La vieja iglesia era conocida por tener murciélagos en su campanario, causando ruidos misteriosos por la noche.

  • During the renovation, workers discovered that the tower really did have bats in its belfry.

    Durante la renovación, los trabajadores descubrieron que la torre realmente tenía murciélagos en su campanario.

  • They had bats in the belfry of the abandoned chapel, which made it unsafe to enter after dark.

    Había murciélagos en el campanario de la capilla abandonada, lo que la hacía insegura para entrar después del anochecer.

  • The caretaker had to wear protective gear when clearing out the bats in the belfry last spring.

    El cuidador tuvo que usar equipo protector al limpiar los murciélagos en el campanario la primavera pasada.

• 2.

  USUKidiomaticinformal
  • To be crazy, eccentric, or mentally unsound.

  Examples

  Beta

  • My uncle definitely has bats in his belfry—he talks to his plants as if they respond.

    Mi tío definitivamente está loco; habla con sus plantas como si respondieran.

  • Do you think she has bats in her belfry, believing that conspiracy theory without evidence?

    ¿Crees que está loca por creer en esa teoría conspirativa sin pruebas?

  • He was acting strange all day, like he had bats in his belfry after staying up for three nights straight.

    Estuvo actuando raro todo el día, como si estuviera loco después de estar despierto tres noches seguidas.