zoomies
/ˈzuːmiz/
Very CommonA sudden burst of frantic energy where a dog or cat runs wildly around the house for no apparent reason.
Originally pet behavior terminology. Now also applied to humans, especially children or adults in a giddy, restless state. The human usage is always playful.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | he was asleep for 6 hours and now he has the zoomies at 2am. dog ownership | The dog woke up with sudden wild energy at the worst time. | x, 2023 |
| 02 | my cat gets the zoomies right after using the litter box every single time | Describing the specific trigger of post-bathroom zoomies in cats. | reddit, 2024 |
| 03 | just finished a long work week and honestly i have the zoomies | Feeling a burst of chaotic relief-energy after finishing something stressful. | tiktok, 2023 |
| 04 | there is no warning. no reason. just full zoomies | Emphasizing the randomness and uncontrollable nature of the behavior. | instagram, 2022 |
Use it when
- A dog or cat suddenly starts sprinting around wildly.
- A person, especially a child, gets an inexplicable burst of frantic energy.
- You are describing chaotic, high-energy behavior with no clear trigger.
Do not use it when
- You mean an animal running for a specific reason like chasing prey.
- You mean sustained athletic activity or exercise.
Origin and context
Started as informal pet owner terminology for Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs) described in veterinary behavior studies. Spread on social media through pet content communities and crossed over into mainstream internet slang by the early 2020s.
- First seen
- 2010s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/zoomiesUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0