Chimp out means to lose your temper or behave wildly. Be aware that the phrase has historically been used as a racist slur against Black people; many find it offensive regardless of intent. If your kid is using it, gently raise the racial connotation and suggest "freak out" instead. If your kid uses it constantly, ask them where they first heard it, not to police their speech but to understand which online community they are in.
chimp out
(slang, derogatory, offensive, intransitive) Of a black person, to behave aggressively or violently.
t͡ʃɪmp aʊtDocumented since 2000s2000sGen ZtrendingHistorical289 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
Etymology timeline
Born ~2000 · 1 year of recorded useLate-Millennial / Web 2.0 eraSee decade cohort →
Seen in the wild
Firecrawl: 'The chimp is screaming. Mary lashes at the tiny animal with a riding ...Jan 1999
Mary drags the chimp out of the cage by one arm and picks up a riding crop and begins beating the tiny animal.
View source
Firecrawl: 'The chimp is screaming. Mary lashes at the tiny animal with a riding ...Jan 1999
Mary drags the chimp out of the cage by one arm and picks up a riding crop and begins beating the tiny animal.
View source
Firecrawl: 'Shamu' Teaches Humans a Thing or Two - NPR
There's a great story in my book about a keeper who let a chimp out into a larger yard and the chimp handed her a piece of celery.
View source
Firecrawl: 'Shamu' Teaches Humans a Thing or Two - NPR
There's a great story in my book about a keeper who let a chimp out into a larger yard and the chimp handed her a piece of celery.
View source
Definitions
GlobalOffensive
#1·Apr 26, 2026Global
(slang, derogatory, offensive, intransitive) Of a black person, to behave aggressively or violently.
For parents
Chimp out means to lose your temper or behave wildly. Be aware that the phrase has historically been used as a racist slur against Black people; many find it offensive regardless of intent. If your kid is using it, gently raise the racial connotation and suggest "freak out" instead. If your kid uses it constantly, ask them where they first heard it, not to police their speech but to understand which online community they are in.
For ESL learners
Chimp out is informal slang meaning to lose control of one's temper, but it carries strong racist connotations when applied to Black individuals and is widely considered offensive. Use formal equivalents instead: "lose control," "have a meltdown," "freak out." Common non-native mistake: assuming the phrase is racially neutral. Many native speakers will perceive it as racist regardless of who is being described.
Heard in the wild
“Mary drags the chimp out of the cage by one arm and picks up a riding crop and begins beating the tiny animal.”
“Mary drags the chimp out of the cage by one arm and picks up a riding crop and begins beating the tiny animal.”
“There's a great story in my book about a keeper who let a chimp out into a larger yard and the chimp handed her a piece of celery.”
“There's a great story in my book about a keeper who let a chimp out into a larger yard and the chimp handed her a piece of celery.”
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
Tags
Other words near "chimp out" (C)
chimneychimpChimpaneseChimpcagoChimpcongochimpettechimpoutchinachinaberryChina bugChina dollChina girl
Browse all slang words starting with C.
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(slang, derogatory, offensive, ethnic slur) An aggressive or violent outburst by a black person.
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