bug out

See also: bugout

English

Etymology

Attested 1950, popularized in the Korean War (1950–53) in such phrases as “bug-out fever” (rout) and “the big bug out” (November/December 1950 retreat) and entered civilian slang by mid 1950s.^[1] Likely originated in World War II, perhaps based on 1930s cartoons featuring bugs fleeing an impending foot or boot.^[2] Ultimately based on the rapid, disorderly flight of bugs when discovered, particularly their scattering if several are discovered at once, such as under a rock or can. Compare chicken out.

Pronunciation

Audio (General Australian): (file)

Verb

bug out (third-person singular simple present bugs out, present participle bugging out, simple past and past participle bugged out)

(slang, intransitive, originally military) To leave (a place) hastily.
- 2004 November 9, Bungie, Halo 2, spoken by Miranda Keyes (Julie Benz), Microsoft Game Studios, Xbox, level/area: Metropolis:
  Sir, the Prophet is bugging out. Request permission to engage!
It's time I bugged out of this town: it ain't safe no more.
1. (slang, intransitive) To abandon someone without warning.
  I'm not gonna bug out on you, I promise.
2. (slang, intransitive) To miss school, play truant, play hooky.
  I go to Stockton High, but normally I bug out.
3. (slang, intransitive) To leave civilization to live off the grid; to escape an apocalypse or emergency by leaving the area.
  When it all goes down, you're gonna want to bug out.
  
  Antonym: bug in
(slang, transitive, of one's eyes) To cause to bulge.
Kim Goodman holds the world record for bugging out her eyes.
(slang, intransitive, of eyes) To bulge; to protrude.
The 3D imagery will make your eyes bug out.
(slang, intransitive) To freak out, to go crazy, e.g. from worry.
- 2006 September 26, L. Divine, Drama High: The Fight, Dafina Young Adult, →ISBN:
  She gets her nails done every Friday, so I know she's bugging out by now because her polish has moved up from the cuticle just a tiny bit, indicating that her nails ain't fresh. “Mickey, how the hell I'm just gone walk up to someone and […]
- 2012 November 13, 50 Cent, Laura Moser, Playground, Penguin, →ISBN, page 89:
  "That's 'cause I'm taking the train into the city right now," I said, "and she's bugging out about my missing it."
(intransitive, slang, computing) To crash or glitch.
My PC keeps bugging out and rebooting for no reason.

Derived terms

bug-out bag

Noun

bug out (plural bug outs)

(military, slang) A rapid retreat, a rout.

Synonyms

retreat

Related terms

bug-out bag

References

^ “The term probably originated in World War II and came into wide use during the Korean War. By the mid-1950s it was also civilian slang.” Fighting Words: From War, Rebellion, and other Combative Capers by Christine Ammer (NTC Publishing Group, Chicago, Ill., 1989, 1999), page 44, quoted in The Phrase Finder, “Re: Bug out”, by ESC on April 23, 2004
^ Re: "Luke the gook," "Gook" and "Bug out", KOREAN-WAR-L, by John R. Carpenter, 5 Aug 2002

[1] “The term probably originated in World War II and came into wide use during the Korean War. By the mid-1950s it was also civilian slang.” Fighting Words: From War, Rebellion, and other Combative Capers by Christine Ammer (NTC Publishing Group, Chicago, Ill., 1989, 1999), page 44, quoted in The Phrase Finder, “Re: Bug out”, by ESC on April 23, 2004

[2] Re: "Luke the gook," "Gook" and "Bug out", KOREAN-WAR-L, by John R. Carpenter, 5 Aug 2002

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