Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to experience an altered state of consciousness from the effects of a hallucinogenic drug; usu. an unpleasant effect; thus freaker-out n.

1965		Frank Zappa ‘The Downtown Talent Scout’ 🎵 He’s just another of the kiddies freaking out.
1972		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.
1975		New Statesman 28 Mar. 424: Ms Kavan’s bleak forays among ghastly freakers-out and assorted libbers.
1985		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.
1993		I. Welsh 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.
1999		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.
2003		G.R. Peterson 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.

1967		L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 138: Fix him up with Dirty Bertha. Freak him out.
1970		Meyer & Ebert Beyond Valley of the Dolls [film script] This is my happening and it freaks me out!
1976		P. Theroux Family Arsenal 72: Freaks me out, that does.
1985		E. Bogosian Talk Radio (1989) 39: He lost his voice once [...] Freaked him the fuck out.
1989		C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 84: Burning the house, that’ll freak him out.
1998		C. Fleming High Concept 141: The drug use freaked her out, and it affected Don’s ability to [...] perform.
1999		Guardian Guide 2–8 Oct. 93: She’s only trying to freak us out!
1999		R.G. Barrett 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.
2001		N. Barlay Hooky Gear 143: So I scream loud as I can. Which wake the dead an freak the fuck even more out of Arno.
2003		N. Griffiths Stump 95: Fuckin freaked me right out, that has [...] Really freaked me right out.
2007		W. Ellis Crooked Little Vein 50: I also had the suspicion [...] that it might freak Trix out a bit.
2010		C. Hiaasen Star Island (2011) 44: Captain, stop. You’re freaking me out.
2016		A. Wheatle Crongton Knights 243: We’re not in any beef with these young cadets. Haven’t we freaked them out enough?
2018		G. Disher Kill Shot [ebook] [T]he cops started sniffing around, which also freaked out Dirk and Missy.
2020		G. Armstrong Young Team 81: Yi didnae want tae think aboot that in case it freaked yi oot.
2020		D. Winslow ‘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.

1963–74

B. Humphries 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.

1966		H.S. Thompson Hell’s Angels (1967) 271: He freaked out in Wyoming and killed a dozen people for reasons he couldn’t explain.
1970		E. Tidyman Shaft 37: Maybe he, John Shaft, was freaking out.
1989		(con. 1950s–60s) in G. Tremlett Little Legs 58: When the blacks saw me they freaked out.
1993		Tarantino & Avery Pulp Fiction [film script] 120: He kinda freaked out back there when he saw Marvin.
2000		N. Griffiths 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.
2010		Codella and Bennett Alphaville (2011) 127: We couldn’t shoot him just for being too freaked out to listen.
2019		D. Winslow 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.
2020		C. Hiaasen Squeeze Me 177: ‘If he’s not a fan of snakes, he probably freaked the fuck out and jumped overboard’.
2020		A. Parks 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’.
2021		C. Hammer 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.

1971		M. Novotny Kings Road 94: ‘Everyone’s freaking out,’ said Brad, ‘shall we join them?’ They stood and joined the dancing bodies.
1988		Eble Campus Sl. Mar. 4: freak out – have a good time.
1998		D. Clowes Ghost World 22: This is my happening and it freaks me out!!
1999		(con. 1979–80) A. Wheatle 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.

1966		R. Stone Hall of Mirrors (1987) 230: Are we going to sit around here and argue about that poor freaked out twitch?
1972		Eble Campus Sl. Oct. 2: freak out [...] I think Murray was freaked out when he saw me all dressed up.
1981		H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 327: Those guys are freaked out, Sarge.
1991		M.B. ‘Chopper’ Read Chopper From The Inside 54: The rest of the guys freaked out, they thought I’d gone crazy.
2000		J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 15: I reckon he wanted me to be a bit freaked out.
2004		J. Ellroy ‘Jungletown Jihad’ in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 341: We left Camel Cal [...] He might rabbit or free-form freak out.
2010		L. Redhead Thrill City [ebook] The way he freaked out, he’d probably threaten to tell that bitch Talbot.
2010		L. Redhead Thrill City [ebook] The freaked-out look guys got when a formerly compliant woman went ballistic.
2012		J. Fagan Panopticon (2013) 236: Shortie looked freaked out.
2015		L. McInerney Glorious Heresies 61: I won’t be freaking the fuck out about how she thinks of me.
2017		D. Winslow The Force [ebook] Levin just nods, too freaked out to talk.
2021		T. Swerdlow Straight Dope [ebook] I don’t know how freaked out he is.

7. to back down, to retreat from a position.

1969

Current Sl. IV:1 8: Freak out, v. To lose one’s courage; to ‘turn chicken’; to back off.