Idiom: act out
Definition
act out:
- to behave badly, especially when angry
- to behave inappropriately when upset
Example sentences
— My younger brother always acts out when he doesn’t get to watch cartoons in the morning.
— My husband was acting out when I was late coming home so I told him to stop being so selfish and prepare dinner himself once in awhile.
— Little children often act out when they're tired and hungry.
— It's really unprofessional when my boss acts out with the marketing staff when he doesn't close a sale.
— Just tell me what you want instead of acting out like a little kid!
— I'm so embarrassed when my children act out at church and I've tried everything to stop their awful behavior.
— Perhaps you should take your children to see a psychiatrist if they're acting out on a daily basis.
— Don't worry, my two-year-old acted out frequently until he turned three.
Synonyms
- act up
- raise hell
- carry on
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