Freak vs Curious - What's the difference?
freak | curious |
A sudden causeless change or turn of the mind; a whim of fancy; a capricious prank; a vagary or caprice.
Someone or something that is markedly unusual.
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A hippie.
* {{quote-journal
, year = 1969 (but cites 1971 source)
, first = Paul A.
, last = Eschholz
, title = Freak compounds for 'argot freaks'
, journal = American Speech
, volume = 44
, issue = 4
, url =
, page = 306-07
, passage = When long-haired, outlandishly dressed, drug-using hippies pilgrimaged to Haight-Ashbury in the early 1960s, they were quickly dubbed freaks'''''; the pejorative appellation was both obvious and intended. It was not long before '''''freak''''' had become practically synonymous with ''hippie''. It seems, however, that with the acceptance of long hair, the appearance and popularity of some rather bizarre fashions, and the emphasis placed upon "doing one's own thing," '''''freak is no longer burdened with all of its former derogatory associations. Instead ... the word is beginning to acquire a quality which is favorable, glamorous, and somehow even admirable.
}}
A drug addict.
* {{quote-journal
, year = 1969 (but cites 1971 source)
, first = Paul A.
, last = Eschholz
, title = Freak compounds for "argot freaks"
, journal = American Speech
, volume = 44
, issue = 4
, url =
, page = 306-07
, passage = Smith and Sturges [June 1969] note in their study of the San Francisco drug scene that freak means "anyone addicted to drugs."
}}
(of a person) A nonconformist, especially in appearance, social behavior, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or business practices; an oddball, especially in physiology (i.e., "circus freak"); unique, sometimes in a displeasing way.
(bodybuilding) A person whose physique has grown far beyond the normal limits of muscular development; often a bodybuilder weighing more than 120 kilos (260 pounds).
An enthusiast, or person who has an obsession with, or extreme knowledge of, something.
* {{quote-journal
, year = 1968
, first = Fred
, last = Davis
, coauthors = Laura Munoz
, title = Heads and freaks: patterns and meanings of drug use among hippies
, journal = Journal of Health and Social Behavior
, volume = 9
, issue = 2
, url =
, page = 156-64
, passage = Anyone ... who seems "hung up" on some idea, activity or interactional disposition, might be called a "freak ."
}}
* {{quote-journal
, year = 1969 (but cites 1971 source)
, first = Paul A.
, last = Eschholz
, title = Freak compounds for "argot freaks"
, journal = American Speech
, volume = 44
, issue = 4
, url =
, page = 306-07
, passage = Presently ... college students ... use freak to denote any kind of enthusiast.
}}
(informal, sometimes, affectionate) A very sexually perverse individual.
To make greatly distressed and/or a discomposed appearance
* 1994 , James Earl Hardy, B-Boy Blues: A Seriously Sexy, Fiercely Funny, Black-On-Black Love Story , (Alyson Publishing), page 107
To be placed or place someone under the influence of a psychedelic drug
* 1992 , Peter G. Stafford, Psychedelics Encyclopedia , (Ronin Publishing), page 56
To streak; to variegate
* 1930 , Robert Seymour Bridges, The Testament of Beauty: A Poem in Four Books , (Literary Criticism), page 20
* Thomson
To experience reality withdrawal, or hallucinations (nightmarish), to behave irrational or unconventional due to drug use.
To react extremely or irrationally, usually under distress or discomposure
* Bulgarian:
(trans-mid)
(trans-bottom)
strange, weird
* {{quote-news
, year=2011
, date=April 15
, author=Saj Chowdhury
, title=Norwich 2 - 1 Nott'm Forest
, work=BBC Sport
(lb) Fastidious, particular; demanding a high standard of excellence, difficult to satisfy.
*1612 , , Proceedings of the English Colonie in Virginia , in Kupperman 1988, p.172:
*:But departing thence, when we found no houses, we were not curious in any weather, to lie 3 or 4 nights together upon any shore under the trees by a good fire.
*(Thomas Fuller) (1606-1661)
*:little curious in her clothes
Inquisitive; tending to ask questions, investigate, or explore.
:
Prompted by curiosity.
*1590 , (Edmund Spenser), (The Faerie Queene) , III.ix:
*:But he to shift their curious request, / Gan causen, why she could not come in place.
Unusual; odd; out of the ordinary; bizarre.
:
*
*:Captain Edward Carlisle, soldier as he was, martinet as he was, felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, her alluring smile?; he could not tell what this prisoner might do.
(lb) Exhibiting care or nicety; artfully constructed; elaborate; wrought with elegance or skill.
*(Bible), (w) xxxv.32
*:to devise curious works
*(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
*:his body couched in a curious bed
As adjectives the difference between freak and curious
is that freak is strange, weird while curious is (lb) fastidious, particular; demanding a high standard of excellence, difficult to satisfy.As a noun freak
is a man, particularly a bold, strong, vigorous man or freak can be a sudden causeless change or turn of the mind; a whim of fancy; a capricious prank; a vagary or caprice.As a verb freak
is to make greatly distressed and/or a discomposed appearance.freak
English
Alternative forms
* (l) (obsolete) * (l), (l), (l) (Scotland)Etymology 1
From (etyl) freke, .Etymology 2
1560, "sudden change of mind, whim", of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to (etyl) .Noun
(en noun)- Bob's a real video-game freak . He owns every games console of the last ten years.
- She's a freak in the sack!
Synonyms
* (sudden change) whim * (sudden change) capriceDerived terms
* fly the freak flag * freak accident * freak flag * freak of nature * freakishly * freakyExternal links
* *Verb
(en verb)- But after one night turned into five days, I was freaking out. I missed him.
- Freaked with many a mingled hue.
Derived terms
* freak outAdjective
(-)citation, page= , passage=A freak goal gave Forest the lead when a clearance by keeper John Ruddy bounced off Nathan Tyson and flew in.}} * Bulgarian: (trans-mid) (trans-bottom)