prima donna attitude
- noun
- /ˈpriːmə ˈdɒnə ˈætɪtjuːd/
- Offensive
- Despite her talent, her prima donna attitude made her difficult to work with.
Examples
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Don't show a prima donna attitude!
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Coaches don’t tolerate a prima donna attitude from any player on the team.
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His prima donna attitude drove several of his colleagues to quit the project.
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Her prima donna attitude made it difficult for the team to work together.
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Her prima donna attitude made it difficult for the team to work together effectively.
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The actor's prima donna attitude alienated many of his colleagues on set.
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Everyone got tired of his prima donna attitude during rehearsal, as he constantly demanded special treatment.
Synonyms
Thinking you are more important than other people
Treating people in a rude, bossy way and not listening to them
Telling people what to do in a controlling way
Trying to control others and acting like you are more important
A way of behaving that is self-important and demanding like a famous performer
Acting too proud and thinking they are better than others
A way of behaving that shows you act too proud and think you are better than others
Being too bossy and trying to control other people
Being overly controlling and not listening to others
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a loaned compound where 'prima donna' refers to a leading (often temperamental) performer and 'attitude' denotes manner or behavior, so a learner who knows 'prima' as a leading performer and 'attitude' could infer a star-like or prominent person's manner. However, the negative connotation of being arrogant, demanding, or temperamental is culturally specific and somewhat idiomatic (and 'donna' may not be recognized), so the precise evaluative sense is not fully predictable without exposure.
Etymology
Prima donna attitude comes from opera, where the lead female singer, the prima donna, often got special treatment and could be bossy or emotional. So, a 'prima donna attitude' means 'to act arrogant and demanding'.