# bad trip

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/bad-trip
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An acute adverse psychological reaction to the effects produced under the influence of psychoactive substances, namely hallucinogens.

## Examples

- He had a bad trip after taking those drugs.
- The music festival turned scary when my friend started having a bad trip and needed help.
- The experience was a terrifying bad trip that left him feeling anxious and disoriented for several days afterward.

## Origin

From bad + trip, first appearing c. 1966 within the pages of the periodical Life.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.