FREAK OUT – Meaning in English

This video explains the meaning of FREAK OUT in English, and then shows, through illustrated sentence examples, how FREAK OUT is used in various contexts. The origin of FREAK OUT is also explained.

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The meaning of the phrasal verb FREAK OUT is:

to lose control
to experience a high emotional state through anger, excitement, terror

Note: it is informal English

The clipart shows a woman in a high state of alarm.

A quick reminder before we look at the origin of FREAK OUT . . .

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The phrasal verb freak out comes from the hippie culture of the mid-60s and was closely associated with drug abuse or the effects of a hallucinogenic drug.

In recent years it is generally used to describe a loss of control of one’s emotions.

Let’s look at some examples:

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In the picture we see a woman screaming with excitement.

Sentence example: When she was told she had won the audition, she really freaked out!

In other words, when she heard she had been selected from the audition, she screamed with excitement.

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The picture shows a woman really scared as she returns home in an apartment block.

Sentence example: She freaked out when she came home and found the front door open.

In other words, she was in a state of terror and panic.

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Finally, in the picture we see a tattoo on a teenager’s arm.

Sentence example: She showed her friend her new tattoo and said: “This is really going to freak out my parents!”

In this case it means the teenager’s parents are likely to be very angry and lose control of their emotions.

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So remember, when you want to informally describe someone who has lost control of their emotions, or who is in a high emotional state, you can say they are “freaking out”.

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If you are interested in FREAK OUT – meaning in English, be sure to check another entry in The New Words Guide:
What is SEXTING? Definition and Sentence Examples

Image Credits

Slide 2 – audition – woman screaming
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/on8nnn

Slide 6 – frightened woman
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/7AgzMo

Slide 7 – tattoo
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/4ULvBr

Regarding the use of illustrations and photographs used in this video:

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