Freak-out (slang)

Freak-out (also known as a psychedelic freakout) is a counterculture-era phrase that originally emerged in the 1960s. The term was used as a noun, adjective and verb throughout the decade. In drug culture, "freak-out" referred to a "bad trip", though it was also associated with the Los Angeles freak scene which inspired a short-lived music scene. The term had also been defined as "a celebratory event, a gathering together of counterculturists to enjoy music and drugs," referring to happenings and parties.

The phrase, which originally gained popularity in the United States, would see further prominence in the United Kingdom with psychedelic nightclubs such as London's UFO Club (short for "Unlimited Freak Out"). Writer Tom Wolfe used the term "freak" throughout his book The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1968), defining it as denoting certain "styles and obsessions". He clarified that the term was not a "negative word," and stated it could refer to "any- thing, isms, life styles, habits, leanings, causes, sexual organs".