The True Story of Running AmokA phrase's origins in spirit possession and violence.

From the show

History of Phrases

The expression 'running amok' is more than just a figure of speech. We trace its roots to 18th-century Malaysia, where Western observers documented a terrifying cultural phenomenon called 'mengamok'. This behavior involved a person, seemingly possessed by an evil tiger spirit, launching into a violent, indiscriminate rampage. The episode would only end when the individual was subdued or collapsed, often with no memory of their destructive actions.