verb General Slang

Bug Out

/bʌɡ aʊt/ · verb · slang

To panic, freak out, or flee — to come apart or bolt under pressure.

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Definitions

1

To leave hastily, often to escape something.

“The cats bugged out when the landlord came knocking.”
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2

To lose your cool; to panic or freak out.

“Don't bug out, man, it's just a little rain.”
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3

To act erratically or go a little wild.

“He bugged out and started dancing on the table.”
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Bug Out In A Sentence

She bugged out when she lost her poetry notebook.
Stay cool — no need to bug out over the cops.
They bugged out of that square town first thing.

Origin & Usage

Entered American slang via the Korean War (early 1950s), where 'bug out' meant a hasty military retreat. It crossed into civilian and beat speech meaning to panic or take off, fitting the era's restless mood.

Variants bugged outbuggin'
Tags #beatnik#1950s#beat-generation#vintage#emotion

People Also Ask

What does bug out mean in slang?

It means to panic or freak out — or to flee hastily. 'Don't bug out' meant don't lose your cool.

Where did bug out come from?

From early-1950s Korean War military slang for a hasty retreat. It crossed into civilian and beat speech meaning to panic or bolt.

Is bug out still used?

Yes — it survives in both the 'panic' sense and the 'flee' sense, and 'bug-out bag' for emergency gear keeps the original retreat meaning alive.

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