to throw wobblies

1 9.9

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

phrasal verb
/θrəʊ ˈwɒbliz/

Slang

: hacer un berrinche

Whenever he can't find his favorite toy, he tends to throw wobblies until someone helps him.

Examples

She started to throw wobblies over the smallest inconveniences after a long day at work.
She always throws wobblies when things don't go her way.
The coach was known to throw wobblies when the team wasn't performing well.
Don't throw wobblies over small issues!
She tends to throw wobblies when she is frustrated with her homework.
It's best to stay calm and not throw wobblies during tough situations.
After not getting his way at the party, he started to throw wobblies in front of everyone.

Synonyms

to throw a fit

vsto throw wobblies

Informal

18 6.1

To suddenly become very angry or upset in a loud, obvious way

often implies childish or exaggerated behaviour rather than merely visible anger

to throw a tantrum

vsto throw wobblies

Informal

15 4.4

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

is informal British and stresses childish exaggeration rather than neutral anger

to fly off

vsto throw wobblies

Informal

8 5.3

To suddenly get very angry without warning

is typically childish and dramatic rather than merely sudden and unexpected

to fly off the handle

vsto throw wobblies

Informal

8 6.8

To suddenly become very angry

is more childish and exaggerated rather than a simple loss of temper

to flip shit

vsto throw wobblies

Offensive

3 9.9

To suddenly become very angry

is more childish and exaggerated rather than extremely intense or coarse

to throw a wobbly

vsto throw wobblies

1 9.9

To become suddenly very angry and upset in a dramatic way

is the plural informal British version rather than the singular form

to throw a snit

vsto throw wobblies

Informal

1 8.7

To suddenly become very angry or upset and act childishly

is chiefly British in usage rather than just broadly informal

to throw a dummy spit

vsto throw wobblies

9.9

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

is mainly British and not specifically Australian in usage

to throw one's toys out of the pram

vsto throw wobblies

9.9

To behave in a childish sulky way after not getting what you want

refers to sudden outbursts often without a specific disappointment trigger

Antonyms

calm

680 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

How Angry

to throw wobblies

Slang

1 9.9

angry

∞ 1.0

annoyed

143 1.0

irritated

56 3.1

Surface Forms

throw wobblies infinitive

throwing wobblies present participle

throws wobblies third person singular

threw wobblies past

thrown wobblies past participle

Morphology

throw + wobblies

This is a chiefly British idiom where 'wobblies' (or 'a wobbly') means a fit of temper; that sense is not a predictable extension of the literal verb 'wobble' (to move unsteadily). Knowing 'throw' and the literal meaning of 'wobble' would not allow a B1 learner to infer 'have a sudden tantrum', so the expression is idiomatic and opaque.

Etymology

The idiom throw wobblies may come from a simple picture: someone who throws small, wobbling toys called wobblies in anger, acting noisy and childish. So the phrase now means 'to have a sudden outburst of anger'.