gold fever

noun

1. greed and excitement caused by a gold rush.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gold fever¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

California has been a beacon, a destination, a paradise and promised land ever since its headlong expansion in a rush of gold fever.

From Los Angeles Times

And, as it turns out, the rain brought a measure of gold fever back to the foothills of the Sierra.

From New York Times

But gold, and gold fever, have inevitably spurred conflict.

From Los Angeles Times

Author and Bigfoot expert Robert Michael Pyle calls Green’s malady “Bigfoot gold fever” and says those who suffer from it, exclusively men, generally lack basic survival skills for living in the woods.

From Seattle Times

So he drank some of the toxic chemical, choosing the promises of gold fever over the pain of mercury poisoning.

From New York Times