In this article, I will compare amok vs. amuck in their use in the phrase to run amok. I will use each in an example sentence. Then, I will explain a useful trick to help you choose either run amok or run amuck.

The expression ‘run amok’ is now synonymous with ‘go crazy’, but originally had a specific meaning. The term originated in Southeast Asia, where ‘amok’ (variously spelled amuk, amuck, amuco) meant ‘a murderous frenzy or rage’.

Mar 28, 2024 · The main difference between “run amok” and “run amuck” lies in their spelling and slight variation in usage, though they mean the same. Both phrases originate from the Malay word ‘amuk’, which describes frenzied or uncontrollable behavior.

Aug 29, 2013 · Today, the phrase “run amok” (also spelled “amuck”) is often used to describe such things as children making a mess while they run around and play. Classically, though, it more resembled the...

Nov 28, 2022 · To act erratically in a wild or hazardous manner is called run amok or run amuck. Which one is correct, run amok or run amuck? Both run amok and run amuck are correct spelling as they both refer to outrageous and out-of-control behavior.

Feb 7, 2013 · The phrase “run amok” was partially popularized by Captain James Cook in 1772. From Cook’s book: To run amock is to get drunk with opium… to sally forth from the house, kill the person or persons supposed to have injured the Amock, and any other person that attempts to impede his passage…

Jan 17, 2025 · In this article, we’ll explore the history and etymology of “run amok” and “run amuck,” helping you make the right choice when using these expressions in your writing or speech. So, let’s dive in!

RUN AMOK definition: to behave without control in a wild or dangerous manner: . Learn more.

The idiom “run amok” is a phrase that has been used for centuries to describe a person who behaves in an uncontrolled, violent, or frenzied manner. It is often associated with sudden outbursts of anger or irrational behavior that can cause harm to themselves or others.

Dec 30, 2009 · We’ve all heard people criticize parents who permit their children to run amok in public places. Or do those badly brought up children run amuck? The first recorded use of the phrase to run amok in English dates from the 1670s. The word amok is from Malay amuk, “attacking furiously.”