Cool MateFreaked out vs Lost it vs Went crazy
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Freaked out
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Lost it
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Went crazy
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
| Freaked out | Lost it | Went crazy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //friːkt aʊt//🇺🇸 //frikt aʊt// | 🇬🇧 //lɒst ɪt//🇺🇸 //lɔst ɪt// | 🇬🇧 //wɛnt ˈkreɪ.zi//🇺🇸 //wɛnt ˈkreɪ.zi// |
| Meaning | to become very scared or anxious | To become very angry or lose control. | To have a strong emotional reaction or become very excited. |
| Example | She freaked out when she saw the huge spider crawling on the wall. | When he found out about the mistake, he completely lost it. | When she saw the surprise party, she went crazy with excitement. |
| Register | Informal | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | freak out over something, totally freaked out, freaked out about, freak out in public | completely lost it, lost it over something, practically lost it | went a little crazy, went crazy over, went crazy about, went absolutely crazy, went completely crazy |
| Antonyms | calmed down, relaxed, composed, unperturbed | - | - |
| Common mistakes | Using with formal situations like business meetings., Confusing with 'freak out' as in a different tense., Omitting the context that causes the fright. | Confusing with 'lost' - 'lost it' means losing control, while 'lost' indicates something being gone., Using with formal language - it's an informal phrase, better for conversations with friends. | Using 'go crazy' instead of 'went crazy' for past events., Confusing it with 'crazy' as a noun., Forgetting to apply appropriate context, such as stating what caused the reaction. |
| Usage notes | Use 'freaked out' in casual conversations to express strong emotions. It's not suitable for formal writing. | 'Lost it' is typically used in casual conversations when someone loses their temper. It's less appropriate in formal settings. | Used in casual conversation to express extreme emotion or behavior. Avoid in formal settings; can indicate losing control when paired with 'crazy'. |
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Frequently asked questions: Freaked out vs Lost it vs Went crazy
What's the difference between Freaked out, Lost it, and Went crazy?
Freaked out: to become very scared or anxious Lost it: To become very angry or lose control. Went crazy: To have a strong emotional reaction or become very excited.
Can you show an example of each?
Freaked out: She freaked out when she saw the huge spider crawling on the wall. Lost it: When he found out about the mistake, he completely lost it. Went crazy: When she saw the surprise party, she went crazy with excitement.
Can I use Freaked out, Lost it, and Went crazy interchangeably?
Not always. Freaked out, Lost it, and Went crazy are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.