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Glite Dictionary
squirrelly behavior

squirrelly behavior

9.0
Nervous, strange actions that make people feel uneasy
  • noun
  • /ˈskwɜrli bɪˈheɪvjər/
  • Informal
translation icon : comportamiento nervioso
  • Whenever he feels stressed, he starts to show some really squirrelly behavior.

Examples

  • Her squirrelly behavior during the meeting made the team uneasy.

  • The manager addressed the intern's squirrelly behavior by having a calm conversation with her.

  • His squirrelly behavior during the meeting raised some eyebrows.

  • Don't you think her squirrelly behavior is a bit concerning?

  • His constant fidgeting and squirrelly behavior made everyone in the meeting feel uneasy.

  • The child's squirrelly behavior during the presentation caught the teacher's attention.

  • Her squirrelly behavior at the party raised some eyebrows among the guests.

Synonyms

flightiness
vssquirrelly behavior
8.1

A tendency to change plans or feelings suddenly without thinking

is more nervous and makes others feel uneasy or suspicious
temperamental behavior
vssquirrelly behavior
7.2

Sudden unpredictable mood changes that affect how a person acts

is more nervous and suggests furtive or suspicious conduct

Antonyms

calm
735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

steady-going
  • UK
4.9

A person who stays calm and acts in a reliable way

How Erratic

squirrelly behavior
  • Informal
9.0
oddity
12 5.9

Surface Forms

squirrelly behavior singular
squirrelly behaviors plural

Morphology

squirrelly + behavior

The adjective 'squirrelly' (restless, behaving strangely) directly modifies 'behavior', so the sense 'nervous, unpredictable, or erratic conduct' is a straightforward compositional interpretation. Although 'squirrelly' is informal, the adjective+noun structure is transparent and a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Squirrelly behavior comes from the image of a small, nervous squirrel that darts around, hides things, and acts a bit strange. So, 'squirrelly behavior' describes actions that are 'nervous', 'unpredictable', or that make other people feel 'uneasy'.