To become extremely agitated, panicked, or lose composure suddenly, often due to stress, fear, or overwhelming circumstances. Can also mean to react with intense excitement or enthusiasm.
This phrase originated in 1960s counterculture, where 'freak' referred to unconventional people or strange experiences, often related to drug use. 'Freak out' initially described having an intense, disorienting experience, but evolved to mean any extreme emotional reaction. The term moved from hippie slang into mainstream usage by the 1970s.
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