1 C1 idiomatic slang
To refuse to do something out of fear or cowardice, especially after agreeing to do it.
"He said he'd do the bungee jump, but he punked out at the last second."
inseparable
punk out
C1 slang inseparable intransitive
To lose one's nerve and refuse to do something out of fear; to act in a cowardly way.
In plain English
To be too scared to do something you said you would do.
What does "punk out" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Primarily American slang. Carries a strong tone of contempt or disappointment. Used among peers to criticise someone for cowardice. Common in youth culture and informal speech, less frequent in general usage.
Words that pair with "punk out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
challenge fight dare promise bet
How to conjugate "punk out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
punk out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
punks out
he/she/it
Past simple
punked out
yesterday
Past participle
punked out
have + pp
-ing form
punking out
continuous
Hear "punk out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "punk out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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