to act out
32
5.5
- phrasal verb
- /ækt aʊt/
:
comportarse mal
- Many teenagers act out to get attention when they feel neglected at home.
- tend to act out
- behaviors are acted out
- act out in class
That's why often we act out and think, what was wrong with me?
- That's why often we act out and think, what was wrong with me?
- The kids who act out the most are in the most pain.
- They said, oh, this kid is he's acting out because he's bored.
- And they acted out in different ways.
- But I acted out a little bit because I was so numb.
- But then you start to act out in different ways that he doesn't understand.
- You know, instead of owning it, we acted out.
- Then we act out and behave in ways that we're not proud of, right?
- It keeps eating you up until you act out.
- But I think what he's doing is he's a child who's acting out.
- And because we feel judged, we act out on that.
- Talk to him instead of being resentful and acting out.
- They tend to withdraw or they tend to act out and they get they drink a lot, they do drugs, they fight.
- Then we want to act all surprised when the most hateful part of the base decides they need to act out on their feelings of hatred.
- behavior. There's it's not an excuse to act out, but
- And then the acting out, it seems like my kid went crazy.
- I'm learning from Marianne yesterday because she has other ways of acting out the ego.
Examples
-
Then we act out and behave in ways that we're not proud of, right?
-
When his mother was around, Joseph was disorganized; he would act out, and he refused to cooperate.
Academic text (2005) -
The kids who act out the most are in the most pain.
-
Well, sometimes kids act out to get their parents attention.
-
Children under stress may 'act out' in class or may not be able to concentrate on school work.
Academic text (2003) -
Bored children tend to act out and cause classroom management problems.
Academic text (2008) -
In order to avoid academic work, they may act out or complain of physical ailments.
Academic text (2005) -
Certain individuals may, unwittingly, be acting out unresolved family issues from previous generations (or more).
Academic text (1997) -
They said, oh, this kid is he's acting out because he's bored.
-
When children act out, it often signals that they are struggling with their emotions.
Synonyms
71
5.6
Suddenly say angry things about someone by speaking or writing
49
7.2
To suddenly lose control and become very angry or upset
45
4.9
Act loudly in public to show strong feeling and get attention
37
2.8
To act in a rude way or break rules
28
4.8
To behave badly or to stop working properly
18
4.4
To show sudden strong anger or upset, often like a child
4
4.6
Show strong anger or upset feelings by talking loudly
1
6.5
To express strong feelings such as anger or sadness
How Disruptive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The core idea of expressing behaviour outwardly is derivable from 'act' (to behave) + 'out' (outward), so a learner could infer that it involves behaving in a visible/external way. However, the specific nuance that this behaviour expresses emotions (often negative) and is inappropriate or a substitute for verbal expression is not fully predictable from the parts, and particle meanings with 'out' vary, so a B1 learner would likely only partially infer the full meaning without prior exposure.
Etymology
Act out creates the image of someone who acts their feelings out into real actions, like a child who shouts to show anger. That's why it means 'to express strong feelings through behavior instead of talking'.