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Glite Dictionary
to act like a jerk

to act like a jerk

9 8.4
To behave rudely or meanly toward other people
  • phrasal verb
  • Offensive
translation icon : portarse como un imbécil
  • You're acting like a jerk!
  • I know I acted like a jerk
  • acting like a jerk too

So if they're going to act like jerks to their peers, to people below them, they're going to act like a jerk to you too.

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Examples

Synonyms

to be an arsehole
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Behave rudely and selfishly, ignoring other people's feelings

is mainly rude and insensitive rather than focused on selfish gain
to be such an arse
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To act rudely and annoy other people

is rude and insensitive but may not be merely annoying
to be a dickwad
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
1 9.9

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

is rude and insensitive even when not provoking strong anger
to acting like a prick
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a rude and hurtful way to other people

is rude and insensitive but not always deliberately provocative
to act like a dickface
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave very rudely and make other people angry or upset

is rude and insensitive but usually less extremely offensive
to douching
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave rudely and arrogantly toward other people

is rude and insensitive without necessarily showing arrogance
to act like a cuntrag
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave in a very rude and insulting way to other people

is rude and insensitive but less focused on vulgar insults
to act like a total fucktwat
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
9.9

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

is rude and insensitive without the extreme offensiveness
to be a shitbiscuit
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
9.9

To act in a rude and unhelpful way

is rude and insensitive but not mainly about being unhelpful
to be a churl
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a rude, unkind way toward other people

is rude and insensitive but not necessarily uncultured
to act like a churl
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
9.9

To treat other people rudely and think only about yourself

is rude and insensitive but not always selfish or boorish
to act like an arseface
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a rude and annoying way

is rude and insensitive rather than simply foolishly irritating
to act like an asshat
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave in a rude and stupid way

is rude and insensitive but not always contemptuous
to act like a douchecanoe
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave rudely and selfishly and annoy other people

is rude and insensitive without necessarily provoking deliberately
to act like an assmunch
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
9.9

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

is ruder and more insensitive than mere foolish irritation
to acting like an assbutt
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a rude and annoying way

is rude and insensitive in tone rather than merely silly
to act like a horse's ass
vsto act like a jerk
  • Offensive
9.9

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

is rude and insensitive without focusing on embarrassment

How Offensive

to act like a jerk
  • Offensive
9 8.4
to act a fool
  • Informal
3 8.0

Surface Forms

act like a jerk infinitive
acted like a jerk past
acted like a jerk past participle
acting like a jerk present participle
acts like a jerk third person singular

Morphology

act + like + a + jerk

The meaning is directly compositional: 'act' = behave, 'like' = similar to, and 'a jerk' = a rude or obnoxious person, so a learner who knows the constituents can infer 'behave in a rude or insensitive way.' This pattern (verb + like + noun denoting a quality) is common and cross-linguistically transparent, so the expression is immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows the words.

Etymology

The phrase act like a jerk may come from imagining jerk as a sudden, rough push, like someone who behaves sharply and makes others step back. So to act like a jerk means 'to be rude or hurtful' and to push people away.