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Glite Dictionary
to throw a fit

to throw a fit

12 6.1
To suddenly become very angry or upset in a loud, obvious way
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : hacer una rabieta
  • When he found out what they contained, he threw a fit and confronted Jack with his information about the contents.
  • going to throw a fit
  • throw a fit now
  • little girl threw a fit

They can tell that they were too stupid for the task, and they throw a fit and they sulk.

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Examples

  • She threw a fit at school.

    Orphan (2009)

  • When they came out of the caves and Pauline didn't show up, Marie-Louise, the little girl, threw a fit.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • My dad would throw a fit if I used anything else!

    After Midnight (1989)

  • "It's broke," he said, like he was about to throw a fit.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Yesterday, while I was waiting in line at a store, a little boy threw a fit.

    Blog text (29)

  • Becky would throw a fit if she saw one of those on me.

    Calendar Girl (1993)

  • When she sees this, she's going to throw a fit.

    Stuart Little 2 (2002)

  • She'll probably throw a fit right there at the check-out counter.

    Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

  • He always throws a fit when I stray from the lesson plan.

    Derailed (2005)

  • He always throws a fit when his favorite show is canceled.

Synonyms

to lose it
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
289 7.5

Suddenly stop controlling your feelings and become very angry or upset

is similar but is often used when the reaction is more public
to explode
vsto throw a fit
187 3.5

To suddenly show a strong feeling, often anger

is similar but focuses on anger or upset rather than any emotion
to erupt
vsto throw a fit
123 4.2

To suddenly start in a strong or violent way, often showing strong feeling

is similar but is used more for personal sudden angry or upset reactions
to go berserk
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
27 7.7

To become very angry and act out of control

is similar but usually less violent and less extreme in behaviour
to go ballistic
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
22 7.5

Suddenly become very angry

is similar but can be less about explosive fury and more general upset
to throw a tantrum
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
18 4.4

To show sudden strong anger or upset, often like a child

is similar but applies to sudden angry or upset reactions generally
to blow up
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
16 4.7

To suddenly become very angry and lose control

is similar but may stress visible dramatics rather than lasting anger
to have a fit
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
16 5.3

To suddenly become very angry or upset and show it strongly

is similar but can be less intense or less visible
to fly off the handle
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
11 6.8

To suddenly become very angry

is similar but can emphasise visible dramatic reactions rather than quick flashes
to see red
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
10 6.8

To become very angry suddenly

is similar but often indicates immediate extreme fury more than general upset
to fly off
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
7 5.3

To suddenly get very angry without warning

is similar but sometimes implies a more theatrical attention seeking display
to boil over
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
7 4.8

To suddenly lose control and show strong anger

is similar but often stresses a build up before the sudden release
to hit the roof
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
4 6.7

To suddenly become very angry

is similar but may be used for slightly less violent expressions
to hit the ceiling
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
3 6.8

To suddenly get very angry

is similar but can also include upset without shocked outrage
to lose one's temper
vsto throw a fit
2 3.7

To suddenly become very angry and not be able to control yourself

is similar but often shows outward dramatic or visible behaviour
to blow one's stack
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
2 8.6

Suddenly get very angry and show it

is similar but can be used for less extreme visible upset
to blow a fuse
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
1 7.4

To suddenly become very angry

is similar but often less about complete loss of self control
to pop off
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
1 8.1

To suddenly say something angry without warning

is similar but can focus more on speaking out than visible upset
to flip your lid
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
1 8.6

To suddenly become very angry and lose control

is similar but may be less slangy or aggressive in everyday use
to flip shit
vsto throw a fit
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To suddenly become very angry

is similar but is usually less coarse in normal speech
to go off on one
vsto throw a fit
  • UK
1 9.9

To suddenly get very angry and speak loudly for a long time

is similar but usually refers to shorter sudden visible reactions
to throw a wobbly
vsto throw a fit
  • UK
9.9

To become suddenly very angry and upset in a dramatic way

is similar but also covers private or milder reactions
to throw a snit
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
8.7

To suddenly become very angry or upset and act childishly

is similar but does not always carry childish connotation
to throw wobblies
vsto throw a fit
  • Slang
9.9

To have a sudden angry outburst like a child's tantrum

is more general and not limited to exaggerated behaviour
to throw a dummy spit
vsto throw a fit
  • UK
9.9

Have a childish angry outburst when you do not get your way

is like that but can describe adult or less childish reactions
to blow one's top
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
8.0

To suddenly become very angry

is broader and can mean sudden upset without full loss of control
to lose one's shit
vsto throw a fit
  • Offensive
9.9

To suddenly become very angry or upset in a way you cannot control

is similar but usually less vulgar or less extreme in tone
to lose one's cool
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
5.9

To suddenly become very angry and fail to control your feelings

is similar but may also include dramatic visible upset beyond stress cases
to flip one's wig
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
9.9

To suddenly become very angry and lose control of yourself

is similar but often lacks surprise and focuses on anger alone
to flip the bitch switch
vsto throw a fit
  • Offensive
9.9

To suddenly become very angry and behave in a mean way

is similar but is more neutral and less vulgar in tone
to have kittens
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
8.8

Become very upset or angry in a way that is too strong

is similar but often adds anxiety rather than pure anger
to go into a tizzy
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
8.3

Get very upset and confused quickly

is similar but includes confusion or agitation rather than only anger
to begin to fume
vsto throw a fit
5.8

Start to show obvious anger, often with a red face and raised voice

is similar but implies a slower onset before the sudden dramatic outburst
to burst a blood vessel
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
6.9

To become very angry or upset in a way people notice

is similar but carries stronger implication of physical or extreme stress
to radge over
vsto throw a fit
  • UK
9.9

Get very angry or upset about small things

is similar but usually applies broadly and not only to small provocations

Antonyms

to keep one's temper
1 4.4

Stay calm and not get angry in a difficult situation

How Angry

to go berserk
  • Informal
27 7.7
to fly off the handle
  • Informal
11 6.8
to throw a fit
  • Informal
12 6.1
to upset
362 1.0
annoyed
77 1.0

Surface Forms

throw a fit infinitive
throwing a fit present participle
throws a fit third person singular
threw a fit past
thrown a fit past participle

Morphology

throw + a + fit

The noun 'fit' denotes a sudden paroxysm of emotion and 'throw' is used metaphorically to mean 'produce/express', so a learner who knows both words could partially infer the idea of producing a sudden emotional outburst. However, the collocational use of 'throw' with 'fit' (i.e., 'have/express a tantrum') is idiomatic enough that the exact sense and pragmatic usage are not fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

The idiom throw a fit may come from older English use where a fit meant a sudden attack or tantrum and throw meant to put someone into that state. So it gives the picture of a person suddenly having a wild outburst, which is why it means 'to become very angry or upset'.