Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb To become
angry about something.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb go mad, go crazy
- verb react in an excited, delighted, or surprised way
Etymologies
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Examples
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clarsen commented on the word flip out
Example:
Her mother flipped out when she found she was going to be traveling to Europe by herself.
February 26, 2008
clarsen commented on the word flip out
I think this is similar to wig out as in the top of your head pops off because you've gotten so worked up.
February 26, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word flip out
Interestingly, I think it might come from flip one's wig, which is an eighteenth-century term. When a gentleman bowed to another gentleman, if he bowed too low, the lard that held his periwig onto his head might not be all that adhesive, and he would flip his wig. Hence it was said "don't flip your wig," meaning don't go too far, don't go overboard. I wonder if "flip out" is simply a shortened, slangified version of this.
I only thought of it because of clarsen's second comment about "wigging out."
February 26, 2008
reesetee commented on the word flip out
And now I'm wondering whether these figures of speech are related to this one: "Whatever flips your hair back." ;-)
February 26, 2008