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prima donna attitude

prima donna attitude

8.1
A way of acting that is arrogant and demanding
  • noun
  • /ˈpriːmə ˈdɒnə ˈætɪtjuːd/
  • Offensive
translation icon : actitud de diva (despectiva)
  • Despite her talent, her prima donna attitude made her difficult to work with.

Examples

  • Don't show a prima donna attitude!

  • Coaches don’t tolerate a prima donna attitude from any player on the team.

  • His prima donna attitude drove several of his colleagues to quit the project.

  • Her prima donna attitude made it difficult for the team to work together.

  • Her prima donna attitude made it difficult for the team to work together effectively.

  • The actor's prima donna attitude alienated many of his colleagues on set.

  • Everyone got tired of his prima donna attitude during rehearsal, as he constantly demanded special treatment.

Synonyms

self-importance
vsprima donna attitude
8 6.2

Thinking you are more important than other people

is more about acting arrogantly and making demands
high-handedness
vsprima donna attitude
  • Formal
1 8.4

Treating people in a rude, bossy way and not listening to them

aims to get special treatment and show temper rather than target inferiors
bossiness
vsprima donna attitude
1 4.3

Telling people what to do in a controlling way

is more about demanding special treatment and dramatic arrogance
imperiousness
vsprima donna attitude
1 9.3

Trying to control others and acting like you are more important

is more about needy entitlement and temper rather than formal command
diva attitude
vsprima donna attitude
  • Offensive
7.9

A way of behaving that is self-important and demanding like a famous performer

is the same idea but expressed with a theatrical label
jumped-up attitude
vsprima donna attitude
  • Offensive
8.7

Acting too proud and thinking they are better than others

is more about acting demanding and temperamental than mere presumption
bighead attitude
vsprima donna attitude
  • Offensive
8.5

A way of behaving that shows you act too proud and think you are better than others

focuses more on dramatic demands and temperamental behaviour
overbearingness
vsprima donna attitude
8.3

Being too bossy and trying to control other people

is more about attention-seeking arrogance and star-like demands
domineeringness
vsprima donna attitude
9.2

Being overly controlling and not listening to others

is more about showy demands and temper than strict control

Antonyms

119 3.5

Willing to work with other people to reach a shared goal

20 5.8

A person or thing that is not proud and not showy

Surface Forms

Morphology

prima + donna + attitude

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'.