Dictionary

hulk out en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /hʌlk aʊt/
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From Hulk, a fictional character, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby for the Marvel Comics Universe, who gains superhuman strength when he becomes angry.

Meanings

1. (slang) To become enraged in an imposing or intimidating manner.
   • Our media is so punch-drunk from the 16-month Hindenburg explosion of Trump’s candidacy, they no longer notice how awful he is unless he hulks out on stage or grabs the foundational principles of our republic by the pussy. 2016 October 24, United Nations (Full Frontal with Samantha Bee), season 1, episode 27, Samantha Bee (actor):
   • Alec Baldwin completely Hulked-out on a paparazzo this morning, after picking up a marriage license with his beautiful fiancé, Hilaria Thomas. 2012 June 19, “Alec Baldwin PUNCHES Paparazzo After Getting Marriage License!”, in PerezHilton, archived from the original on 10 May 2015:
   • Valencia—when she gets mad—she, like, hulks out. 2015 October 26, Rachel Bloom, Aline Brosh McKenna, I Hope Josh Comes to My Party! (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), season 1, episode 3, spoken by Josh Chan (Vincent Rodriguez III), via The CW:
   • "Now," Mr. Gaunt said. "Let me give you a few directions, Ace. And remember what I said: I want you back by midnight. If you're not back by midnight, I will be unhappy. When I'm unhappy, I sometimes lose my temper. You wouldn't want to be around when that happens." "Do you Hulk out?" Ace asked jestingly. 1991, Stephen King, Needful Things:
2. To gain significant muscle mass from exercise.
   • One of my best friends has hulked out his chest, triceps and shoulders exclusively with weighted push ups at my recommendation. 2012 January 10, Joshua Naterman, “Need Advice on Building Rounder Chest without Weights?”, in GymnasticBodies Forums:
   • A review of studies done on runners and strength training showed generally positive impacts and no negative consequences. You won’t hulk out or bulk up just fine-tune some lean muscle in ways that running alone can’t do. 2017 January 9, Molly Hurford, “Cross-Training Workouts Every Runner Should Try”, in MapMyRun, archived from the original on 18 Jun 2017:
   • You want to be in a permanent state of Hulking out, but chances are, if you’re reading this article, building bulk doesn’t come naturally. 2016 December 9, Rachael Schultz, “How to eat to bulk up”, in Men's Fitness:

Forms

Synonyms

bulk up (increase muscle mass) · lose one's temper (become enraged)

wikipedia: Jack Kirby · wikipedia: Marvel Comics Universe · wikipedia: Stan Lee