freak out v.
1. to experience an altered state of consciousness from the effects of a hallucinogenic drug; usu. an unpleasant effect; thus freaker-out n.
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | ‘The Downtown Talent Scout’ 🎵 He’s just another of the kiddies freaking out. | |
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | Nova Apr. 83: The boys [...] had acquired jargon which even in Japanese pop periodicals is being used decoratively, with no real concept of meaning: turned on, dropped out, freaked out. | |
| New Statesman 28 Mar. 424: Ms Kavan’s bleak forays among ghastly freakers-out and assorted libbers. | |
![[Can]](/static/img/flags/can.png "Canada") | Totally True Diaries of an Eighties Roller Queen 🌐 14 June I took a hit of acid (evolution shaped like bugs). It was really fun. [...] We didn’t know what was happening. I was pretty freaked out and couldn’t stop laughing. | |
![[Scot]](/static/img/flags/sco.png "Scotland") | Trainspotting 137: If you’re E’d out of your box [...] you’d be better off at some rave freaking out to heavy techno-sounds. | |
| Africa News Service 29 Nov. 🌐 For a while there is that euphoria, (but) crack can get you so high that you freak out and lose control. | |
 | Rhapsody in Overdrive 52: So you told your sister that I freaked out on acid? |
2. to worry someone, to disturb, to horrify – the level of trauma depends on context.
| Essential Lenny Bruce 138: Fix him up with Dirty Bertha. Freak him out. | |
| Beyond Valley of the Dolls [film script] This is my happening and it freaks me out! | |
| Family Arsenal 72: Freaks me out, that does. | |
| Talk Radio (1989) 39: He lost his voice once [...] Freaked him the fuck out. | |
![[Aus]](/static/img/flags/aus.png "Australia") | Dict. Aus. Swearing & Sex Sayings n.p.: FREAK OUT — To become ecstatic due to an unexpected surprise. | |
| Skin Tight 84: Burning the house, that’ll freak him out. | |
| High Concept 141: The drug use freaked her out, and it affected Don’s ability to [...] perform. | |
| Guardian Guide 2–8 Oct. 93: She’s only trying to freak us out! | |
| Wind & Monkey (2013) [ebook] Les thought that might be enough blood for the time being as he didn’t want to freak poor little Digger out. | |
| Hooky Gear 143: So I scream loud as I can. Which wake the dead an freak the fuck even more out of Arno. | |
| Stump 95: Fuckin freaked me right out, that has [...] Really freaked me right out. | |
| Crooked Little Vein 50: I also had the suspicion [...] that it might freak Trix out a bit. | |
| Star Island (2011) 44: Captain, stop. You’re freaking me out. | |
| Crongton Knights 243: We’re not in any beef with these young cadets. Haven’t we freaked them out enough? | |
| Kill Shot [ebook] [T]he cops started sniffing around, which also freaked out Dirk and Missy. | |
| Young Team 81: Yi didnae want tae think aboot that in case it freaked yi oot. | |
| ‘Sunset’ in Broken 211: [T]he cloudy marine layer hangs in until about eleven in the morning, freaking out the tourists who’ve laid out big bucks. |
3. to engage in unorthodox or unrestrained sexual activity.
| Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 36: Knowing that one they’ll be freaking out by now. |
4. to go crazy, wild or out of control from fear or instability.
| Hell’s Angels (1967) 271: He freaked out in Wyoming and killed a dozen people for reasons he couldn’t explain. | |
| Shaft 37: Maybe he, John Shaft, was freaking out. | |
| (con. 1950s–60s) in Little Legs 58: When the blacks saw me they freaked out. | |
| Pulp Fiction [film script] 120: He kinda freaked out back there when he saw Marvin. | |
| Grits 370: A still remember Ikey freakin out the time [...] when ee found out that Oily ad buggered off with a ton-a Phil’s money. | |
| Alphaville (2011) 127: We couldn’t shoot him just for being too freaked out to listen. | |
| Border [ebook] Callan needs ex-military pilots, guys with experience at going in hot, who aren’t going to freak out if some rounds start zinging around them. | |
| Squeeze Me 177: ‘If he’s not a fan of snakes, he probably freaked the fuck out and jumped overboard’. | |
| Bobby March Will Live Forever 133: ‘Tells him he’s a nonce and that he’s going to jail. Boy freaks out when he realises he’s not going home’. | |
| Opal Country 301: They [...] find the body has been crucified. They freak out. |
5. to experience intense emotional pleasure; thus freak someone out v., to engender such pleasure.
| Kings Road 94: ‘Everyone’s freaking out,’ said Brad, ‘shall we join them?’ They stood and joined the dancing bodies. | |
| Campus Sl. Mar. 4: freak out – have a good time. | |
| Ghost World 22: This is my happening and it freaks me out!! | |
| (con. 1979–80) Brixton Rock (2004) 91: People go there [i.e. a club] to freak out, you know, get loose. |
6. to be upset, worried; thus freaked out adj., worried, nervous, upset.
| Hall of Mirrors (1987) 230: Are we going to sit around here and argue about that poor freaked out twitch? | |
| Campus Sl. Oct. 2: freak out [...] I think Murray was freaked out when he saw me all dressed up. | |
| Fort Apache, The Bronx 327: Those guys are freaked out, Sarge. | |
| Chopper From The Inside 54: The rest of the guys freaked out, they thought I’d gone crazy. | |
| Layer Cake 15: I reckon he wanted me to be a bit freaked out. | |
| ‘Jungletown Jihad’ in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 341: We left Camel Cal [...] He might rabbit or free-form freak out. | |
| Thrill City [ebook] The way he freaked out, he’d probably threaten to tell that bitch Talbot. | |
| Thrill City [ebook] The freaked-out look guys got when a formerly compliant woman went ballistic. | |
| Panopticon (2013) 236: Shortie looked freaked out. | |
![[Ire]](/static/img/flags/ire.png "Ireland") | Glorious Heresies 61: I won’t be freaking the fuck out about how she thinks of me. | |
| The Force [ebook] Levin just nods, too freaked out to talk. | |
| Straight Dope [ebook] I don’t know how freaked out he is. |
7. to back down, to retreat from a position.
| Current Sl. IV:1 8: Freak out, v. To lose one’s courage; to ‘turn chicken’; to back off. |