to act like a scally

9.9

To behave in a silly, rude way and break rules

idiom

Offensive

: [OFENSIVO, INFORMAL] comportarse como un gamberro

She couldn't believe he would act like a scally in front of her parents.

Examples

Don't act like a scally at the party if you want to make a good impression.
Don't act like a scally at the party!
If you act like a scally at school, you'll get into trouble sooner or later.
Stop telling him to act like a scally when we're at the interview.
Why do you always act like a scally during class?
If you act like a scally at school, you'll get into trouble sooner or later.
She couldn't believe he would act like a scally in front of her parents.

Synonyms

to be a tosser

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

1 9.9

To behave in a rude, stupid way

leans more toward unruly, loutish mischief and irresponsible conduct

to act like a putz

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

1 9.9

To behave in a silly or clumsy way

focuses more on deliberate rude mischief than mere ineptness

to be a berk

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

1 9.9

To act in a foolish way

is more about loutish mischief and irresponsible behaviour than stupidity alone

to be such an arse

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

1 9.9

To act rudely and annoy other people

leans more to loutish, mischievous conduct and irresponsible actions

to act like a tosser

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

To behave rudely or foolishly in a way that annoys others

is more about rowdy, loutish mischief and general irresponsibility

to act like a clodpole

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

To behave in a foolish and clumsy way

is more about unruly mischief and deliberate irresponsibility than clumsiness

to act like a dingus

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

To behave in a foolish, clumsy way that makes people laugh

is more about rough, loutish mischief and irresponsible behaviour

to act like a dipstick

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

To behave foolishly or clumsily

is more about rude, loutish mischief rather than absent thinking

to act like a peabrain

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.6

Behave in a silly, not very smart way

focuses more on unruly, mischievous behaviour rather than mere lack of sense

to act like a doylem

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

Behave in a silly, clumsy way

is more about bold, unruly mischief and irresponsible acting out

to act like a dumbo

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.6

Behave in a silly or foolish way

is more about mischievous, irresponsible behaviour than simple foolishness

to be a booby

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

Act in a silly or stupid way

is more about active unruly mischief and irresponsible conduct

to act like a booger brain

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

To behave in a silly and immature way

is more about unruly, loutish misbehavior than mere childishness

to act like a dorkus

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

To behave in a silly, awkward way that looks foolish

is more about rowdy, unruly misbehaviour than gentle awkwardness

to act like a ditz

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.6

Behave in a silly, careless way to avoid serious talk

focuses more on rough, irresponsible mischief rather than scatterbrained silliness

to act like a dingleberry

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

To behave in a silly or annoying way

leans more to unruly mischief and deliberate irresponsible acts

to act like a horse's ass

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

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

is more about unruly, mischievous behaviour than simple embarrassment

to be a wally

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

Act in a silly, embarrassing way

is more about bold, unruly mischief and deliberate irresponsibility

to act like a barmpot

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

To behave in a silly or wild way that makes people laugh

is more about loutish mischief and social irresponsibility than eccentricity

to be a chutiya

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

To behave in a stupid and rude way

is more about deliberate unruly misbehaviour than naive carelessness

to act like a wasteman

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

To behave foolishly and not take responsibility

is more about unruly, loutish mischief and general irresponsibility

to act like a douchecanoe

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

Behave rudely and selfishly and annoy other people

is more about deliberate loutish mischief and irresponsible conduct

to act like an asshat

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

Behave in a rude and stupid way

leans more toward cheeky, loutish mischief and irresponsibility

to act like an arseface

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

To behave in a rude and annoying way

focuses more on rough, unruly mischief than mere irritation

to act like an assmunch

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

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

is more about deliberate loutish mischief and irresponsible conduct

to act like a fuckskull

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

To behave in a very foolish and rude way

is more about mischievous, unruly behaviour rather than blunt insult

to act like a total fucktwat

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

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

is more about unruly mischief and irresponsible conduct than sheer offensiveness

to act like a buffoon

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

6.8

Behave in a silly, clumsy way to make people laugh at you

focuses more on unruly, loutish misbehaviour rather than mere silliness

to be a skaapie

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

Act in a foolish way because you trust people too easily

is rougher and more loutish, showing deliberate mischief

to be a choad

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.9

To act in a rude, annoying way that other people dislike

is more about rough, loutish misbehaviour than simple irritation

to act like a dodo

vsto act like a scally

Offensive

9.3

To behave foolishly and show little common sense

is more about rowdy, loutish mischief and irresponsible acting

Antonyms

responsibly

52 3.0

In a careful way that shows others they can trust you to do what is right

sensibly

15 3.7

In a way that shows good judgment and practical choices

Surface Forms

act like a scally infinitive

acted like a scally past

acted like a scally past participle

acting like a scally present participle

acts like a scally third person singular

Morphology

act + like + a + scally

The expression is fully compositional: 'act like' means 'behave in the manner of' so, if a learner knows the noun 'scally' (a mischievous or loutish person), they can directly derive 'behave like a scally' as given in the definition. Note that 'scally' is regional British slang and may be unknown to many learners, but that lexical rarity does not make the structural meaning of the MWE opaque.

Etymology

Act like a scally comes from British slang scally, a short form of 'scallywag' for a cheeky young person who causes trouble. Imagine a loud street kid pushing, shouting, or playing tricks; to act like a scally today means 'behave foolishly or irresponsibly'.