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Glite Dictionary
😱 To lose control 😱 An outburst
to wig out

to wig out

11 9.2
React with strong fear or excitement and lose control
  • phrasal verb
  • /wɪg aʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : perder el control
  • When he saw the unexpected test results, he completely wigged out and started yelling.
  • just wig out
  • wig out again
  • get wigged out

Examples

Synonyms

to freak
vsto wig out
  • Informal
684 7.1

React very strongly and lose control because of fear or shock

also covers strong excitement or panic, not only fear responses
to freak out
vsto wig out
  • Informal
430 6.8

To become very upset or afraid suddenly and lose control

includes those fear reactions but also covers excitement or agitation
to lose it
vsto wig out
  • Informal
289 7.5

Suddenly stop controlling your feelings and become very angry or upset

also applies to excitement or panic, not only anger or upset
to flip
vsto wig out
  • Informal
143 7.5

To suddenly become very angry, excited, or surprised

is broader by including panic or intense agitation as well
to flip out
vsto wig out
  • Informal
49 7.2

To suddenly lose control and become very angry or upset

covers extreme reactions including excitement, agitation, or panic rather than only anger
to go berserk
vsto wig out
  • Informal
27 7.7

To become very angry and act out of control

includes nonviolent excitement and panic as alternative reactions
to throw a tantrum
vsto wig out
  • Informal
18 4.4

To show sudden strong anger or upset, often like a child

is not limited to anger and frustration, including panic and excitement
to have a fit
vsto wig out
  • Informal
16 5.3

To suddenly become very angry or upset and show it strongly

is broader, also covering panic and excited loss of control
to throw a fit
vsto wig out
  • Informal
12 6.1

To suddenly become very angry or upset in a loud, obvious way

includes a wider range of extreme emotions like panic or excitement
to fly off the handle
vsto wig out
  • Informal
11 6.8

To suddenly become very angry

also applies to other extreme reactions like panic or excitement
to go bananas
vsto wig out
  • Informal
8 8.1

To lose control because you are very excited or angry

adds panic and general agitation as further possible reactions
to fly off
vsto wig out
  • Informal
7 5.3

To suddenly get very angry without warning

is wider, covering panic, agitation, or intense excitement too
to go batshit
vsto wig out
  • Offensive
2 9.9

To become very angry and act in a wild, out of control way

covers other strong emotions like panic and intense agitation
to trip out
vsto wig out
  • Informal
1 8.6

Become very upset or excited and act confused suddenly

also covers fear and panic responses, not only excitement or distraction
to go off on one
vsto wig out
  • UK
1 9.9

To suddenly get very angry and speak loudly for a long time

is usually a brief intense reaction rather than a long angry speech
to get het up
vsto wig out
  • Archaic
1 9.6

To become too angry or upset about small things

is used for intense reactions whether or not they seem unnecessary
to flip one's wig
vsto wig out
  • Informal
9.9

To suddenly become very angry and lose control of yourself

is broader, applying to excitement or panic as well
to trippin'
vsto wig out
  • Slang
9.9

To act confused and react too strongly in a surprising way

tends to include stronger panic and agitation than mere confusion
to bug-out
vsto wig out
  • Slang
8.8

To react suddenly with fear and lose control

includes other intense emotions like excitement or agitation beyond panic
to go into a tizzy
vsto wig out
  • Informal
8.3

Get very upset and confused quickly

extends that sudden upset to include strong excitement or panic
to throw a wobbly
vsto wig out
  • UK
9.9

To become suddenly very angry and upset in a dramatic way

is broader, applying to panic or excited agitation as well

Antonyms

to compose
33 4.7

To calm yourself after strong feelings

How Agitated

to melt down
12 6.9
to wig out
  • Informal
11 9.2
to upset
362 1.0
to calm
962 1.0

Surface Forms

wig out infinitive
wigged out past
wigged out past participle
wigging out present participle
wigs out third person singular

Morphology

wig + out

The meaning 'an episode of extreme agitation' does not follow from 'wig' (a hairpiece) + 'out' (direction/result); the phrase is informal slang whose sense is idiomatic rather than compositional. A B1 learner who knows the individual words would be unlikely to infer this meaning without prior exposure, so it should be treated as opaque.

Etymology

Wig out may come from the image of someone suddenly pulling off a wig in panic, as if they can no longer control their look or feelings. So, it now means 'to panic' or 'to lose control'.