call of the void
/kɔːl əv ðə vɔɪd/
CommonThe strange urge to do something dangerous or forbidden, even though you have no intention of actually doing it.
Borrowed from the French term 'l'appel du vide.' Online it is used to describe any sudden irrational impulse, not just height-related ones. Important: it is not a sign of wanting to self-harm.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | standing on the train platform and the call of the void said hello. i am fine, just vibing | Experienced a fleeting irrational impulse while waiting, without any real distress. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | why does the call of the void hit hardest when i'm holding an expensive item | The irrational urge to drop or throw something valuable for no reason. | reddit, 2023 |
| 03 | just looked over a balcony and the call of the void was like 'hey what's up'. normal human experience i hear | Experiencing the height-related version of the phenomenon and treating it casually. | tiktok, 2023 |
| 04 | in a 4 hour meeting and the call of the void is telling me to just close my laptop and walk out | An irrational impulse to abandon a professional obligation with no consequences considered. | x, 2024 |
Use it when
- You feel a weird irrational urge to do something you'd never actually do.
- Someone describes the sudden pull toward a forbidden or dangerous action.
- You are referencing the phenomenon of random self-destructive impulses.
Do not use it when
- Someone is expressing genuine suicidal thoughts.
- You mean you acted on a weird impulse.Use “intrusive thoughts won” instead.
Call of the void vs intrusive thoughts won
call of the void
Call of the void is the urge before any action. You do not act on it.
VS
intrusive-thoughts-won
Intrusive thoughts won means you gave in and did the thing.
Origin and context
From the French 'l'appel du vide,' a term used in psychology and philosophy. The English phrase spread through Reddit and mental health communities before becoming mainstream internet slang.
- First seen
- early-2010s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/call-of-the-voidUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0