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to acting like a prick

to acting like a prick

9.9
To behave in a rude and hurtful way to other people
  • idiom
  • Offensive
translation icon : portarse como un cabrón
  • I acted like a prick all night long.

Examples

  • He started acting like a prick when he didn't get his way at the party.

  • She was acting like a prick, making sarcastic remarks to everyone around her.

  • If you keep acting like a prick, you're going to lose all your friends.

Synonyms

being a bitch
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
56 9.9

Treating other people in an unkind, harsh way

is alike but may be more generally obnoxious than mean spirited
douchey
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
11 9.7

Being rude and acting like you are better than other people

is alike but may be less about arrogance
to act like a jerk
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9 8.4

To behave rudely or meanly toward other people

is the same rude behaviour often done deliberately
to be an arsehole
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Behave rudely and selfishly, ignoring other people's feelings

is similar but focuses more on deliberate unpleasantness
to be such an arse
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To act rudely and annoy other people

is similar but often implies deliberate unpleasant behaviour
to be a dickwad
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Act in a rude, foolish way that annoys or upsets other people

is alike but may stress purposeful unpleasantness more
jerkish
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
1 8.5

Being rude and mean to other people

is the same but often more deliberately unpleasant
prickish
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
1 8.9

Being rude and getting upset by small things

is similar but less about quick temper and more about rudeness
to act like a dickface
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave very rudely and make other people angry or upset

is similarly rude but not always as extremely offensive
to douching
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave rudely and arrogantly toward other people

is comparable but not always as arrogant
to act like an asshat
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave in a rude and stupid way

is similar but can be more plainly rude than foolish
to act like a douchecanoe
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave rudely and selfishly and annoy other people

is close but not necessarily very irritating
to act like an arseface
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a rude and annoying way

is more about deliberate rudeness than mere foolishness
to be a shitbiscuit
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9.9

To act in a rude and unhelpful way

is the same unpleasant behaviour often done deliberately
to act like a horse's ass
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave rudely and foolishly in a way that annoys or embarrasses people

is similar but more focused on plain obnoxiousness
to act like an assmunch
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave in a rude, annoying, and foolish way toward other people

is similar but can be more deliberately unpleasant
to acting like an assbutt
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a rude and annoying way

is similar but often harsher or more openly rude
to act like a dorkus
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a silly, awkward way that looks foolish

is more clearly rude and deliberately unpleasant
to act like a dingleberry
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a silly or annoying way

is stronger and more directly rude or obnoxious
to act like a total fucktwat
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave in a very rude and thoughtless way that upsets other people

is similar but not always extremely offensive
to act like a cuntrag
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave in a very rude and insulting way to other people

is like this but can be less vulgar in tone
to act like a churl
vsto acting like a prick
  • Offensive
9.9

To treat other people rudely and think only about yourself

is similar but often more openly obnoxious

Antonyms

534 1.0

Being helpful and caring toward other people

314 1.0

Giving a gentle feeling of enjoyment

Surface Forms

acting like a prick infinitive
acted like a prick past participle
acting like a prick present participle
acts like a prick third person singular

Morphology

act + like + a + prick

The meaning 'behaving in an obnoxious or unpleasant manner' is directly derivable from the constituents: 'act' (to behave) + 'like' (similar to) + 'prick' (a derogatory term for an unpleasant person). This is a transparent simile construction that a B1 learner who knows the word 'prick' would readily interpret (noting that 'prick' is vulgar/slang in register).

Etymology

Acting like a prick comes from the idea of prick as a small sharp point, like a thorn or needle that pokes and hurts. So, acting like a prick means behaving in a way that hurts or annoys other people, in other words 'rude' and unpleasant.