to act like a churl

9.9

To treat other people rudely and think only about yourself

idiom

Offensive

: comportarse como un patán

Despite being the host, she acted like a churl and ignored her guests.

Examples

Whenever he is tired, he tends to act like a churl and snap at everyone.
You shouldn't act like a churl just because things aren't going your way.
Don't act like a churl at the party!
Why do you act like a churl when we have guests?
Despite being the host, she acted like a churl and ignored her guests.
Whenever he is tired, he tends to act like a churl and snap at everyone.
You shouldn't act like a churl just because things aren't going your way.

Synonyms

being a bitch

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

63 9.9

Treating other people in an unkind, harsh way

is more about boorish selfishness rather than mean spite

to act like a jerk

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

14 8.4

To behave rudely or meanly toward other people

adds more selfish or boorish intent to that rude behaviour

to be such an arse

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

6 9.9

To act rudely and annoy other people

focuses more on selfish rudeness than mere foolishness

to be an arsehole

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

2 9.9

Behave rudely and selfishly, ignoring other people's feelings

expresses similar rudeness but with a more old-fashioned tone

to act like a pig

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

1 8.0

To behave in a greedy and messy way, often when eating with others

is broader, covering many rude or selfish actions beyond messiness

to be a dickwad

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

1 9.9

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

is similar but emphasizes boorish selfishness over mere irritation

to be a churl

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

1 9.9

Act in a rude, unkind way toward other people

is the same idea but stresses selfishness as well as rudeness

to acting like a prick

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

1 9.9

To behave in a rude and hurtful way to other people

is similar but can be less deliberately confrontational

to act like an asshat

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

1 9.9

Behave in a rude and stupid way

is closer to plain rudeness and selfish, uncaring behaviour

to act like a horse's ass

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

1 9.9

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

focuses more on selfish, uncivil behaviour than embarrassment

to be a scrote

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

9.9

To act selfishly and treat other people badly

is broader, covering rude manners as well as selfish acts

to act like an arseface

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

9.9

To behave in a rude and annoying way

leans more toward outright selfish rudeness than simple foolishness

to act like a douchecanoe

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

9.9

Behave rudely and selfishly and annoy other people

shares rudeness but the key is less intensely offensive

to act like an assmunch

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

9.9

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

is more strongly tied to selfish or boorish conduct

to acting like an assbutt

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

9.9

To behave in a rude and annoying way

has the same rude core but adds a selfish, boorish angle

to act like a scally

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

9.9

To behave in a silly, rude way and break rules

is more about plain rudeness and selfish, unpleasant conduct

to act like a dickface

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

9.9

To behave very rudely and make other people angry or upset

shares rudeness but is less extremely insulting or crude

to act like a cuntrag

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

9.9

Behave in a very rude and insulting way to other people

expresses the same meanness but with less vulgar intensity

to act like a total fucktwat

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

9.9

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

is similar but usually less aggressively vulgar or shocking

to act like a sleazo

vsto act like a churl

Offensive

9.9

Behave in a dishonest or rude way that makes other people feel uncomfortable

focuses on general rudeness and selfish boorish behaviour instead

Surface Forms

act like a churl infinitive

acted like a churl past

acted like a churl past participle

acting like a churl present participle

acts like a churl third person singular

Morphology

act + like + a + churl

The phrase follows the productive pattern 'act like X' meaning 'behave similarly to X'; if a learner knows 'churl' as 'a rude or ill-mannered person', the overall meaning is directly inferable from the constituents. This compositional pattern is common across languages and in English, so a B1 learner who knows the words would understand it.

Etymology

Act like a churl comes from the old word churl, which once named a rough country worker who was treated as low class and had poor manners. So, saying someone 'acts like a churl' paints that picture and means 'to behave rudely or selfishly'.