Crash out
Etymology
From Black American English, where to “crash out” is to lose control and act recklessly. Building on earlier slang senses (including “to fall asleep” and “to go to prison”), the “lose it emotionally” meaning surged online through rap and TikTok in 2024.
verb · /KRASH owt/
To lose emotional control or self-destruct impulsively, often in reaction to a setback.
What it names
It names the moment restraint gives way — reacting to stress or provocation with reckless anger or self-sabotage rather than composure. It captures a loss of control that is visible and often costly.
Example
One rude email and he was ready to crash out and quit on the spot.
Related idea
More explosive than being salty: salty is quiet, lingering bitterness, while crashing out is a visible, often self-destructive loss of control.