Past tense of flip; turned over quickly or suddenly, often with a sharp motion. Can also mean changed suddenly to an opposite state or became very excited or angry.
Probably imitative of the sound of a quick, light blow or movement. First recorded in the 16th century, originally meaning to strike lightly or fillip.
The phrase 'flipped out' meaning 'went crazy' emerged from 1960s counterculture, possibly from the idea of a mental switch being suddenly thrown, like flipping a coin that lands unpredictably!
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