# flip out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/flip-out
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to suddenly become very angry, excited, or scared and lose control of your emotions.

For teachers: to react with sudden, intense emotion or irrational behavior; typically functions as an intransitive phrasal verb indicating a loss of composure.

## Examples

- My mom will flip out if she sees this mess.
- He completely flipped out when he realized he had lost his passport just hours before the flight.
- The crowd flipped out as the lead singer unexpectedly jumped into the front row during the final chorus of the set.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He flipped out his boss." but "He flipped out at his boss." — when directed at a person, the preposition 'at' is required because the verb is intransitive in this sense.

## Usage notes

- usually used without an object to describe a person's sudden emotional reaction.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'freak out' (very similar) and 'lose it'; 'flip out' often implies a more explosive or visible reaction than just being worried.

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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.