crash out.
To lose control in anger or act recklessly with serious consequences; separately, to fall asleep from exhaustion, fail or be eliminated.
What does crash out mean?
In the anger-related slang sense, to crash out is to become uncontrollably upset or act recklessly, potentially in a self-destructive way. A noun use can name such an episode or a person characterized as reckless.
Other established readings include falling asleep from exhaustion and being eliminated from a competition. “I crashed out after work” may simply concern sleep. Read the event and consequences before choosing an anger-related interpretation. A dramatic joke also need not establish an actual violent event.
See how it lands.
Original examples written for this entry, not quotations from the sources.
He nearly crashed out over a missing charger.
After the overnight shift, I crashed out on the sofa.
The right word.
The right moment.
Use the meaning that fits the actual event. If somebody seems genuinely distressed, address the situation instead of treating the slang as a diagnosis.
Avoid assuming that a sleep reference describes aggression, or treating a joking complaint as evidence that somebody actually acted violently.
Not quite the same as…
cooked
Cooked can describe being exhausted or in trouble. Crash out describes an action or episode in these senses, rather than the same state in every sentence.
A little backstory.
The linked reference documents this meaning. This entry does not establish a single inventor or a first-use date; a dictionary record and a current popularity measurement answer different questions.
Supported by Wiktionary contributors
Still wondering?
Does crash out always mean getting angry?
No. Falling asleep from exhaustion and being eliminated from a competition are separate readings. The surrounding event is the useful clue.
Can crash out be a noun?
Yes. It can name an episode of losing control or a reckless person in documented slang uses. Sentence structure helps distinguish the noun from the verb.
Sources & checks
Meaning and factual notes are informed by the references below. Examples and usage advice are original editorial writing. A source documents use; it does not measure current popularity.
- crash out — meaning and usage ↗Wiktionary contributors · checked 20 Oct 2026Supports: meaning; distinct senses