やけくそ

やけくそ
noun / na-adjective
desperate, reckless, giving up
1. desperate, reckless, abandoning restraint
A state of throwing caution to the wind out of frustration or despair, acting without caring about consequences.
やけくそになった。
I gave up and went reckless.
やけくそで全部(ぜんぶ)()べた。
I desperately ate everything.
やけくそで()(もの)をしてしまった。
I went on a reckless shopping spree.
もうやけくそだ、どうにでもなれ。
I give up—whatever happens, happens.

やけくそ combines やけ (from 自暴自棄(じぼうじき), desperation) and くそ (crap, damn), expressing a state of frustrated abandonment of reason or restraint.

It's used when someone:

  • Stops caring about consequences
  • Acts impulsively out of frustration
  • Gives up trying to control a situation

Common patterns:

  • やけくそになる: to become desperate/reckless
  • やけくそで + verb: to do something recklessly