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Glite Dictionary
to throw wobblies

to throw wobblies

9.9
To have a sudden angry outburst like a child's tantrum
  • phrasal verb
  • /θrəʊ ˈwɒbliz/
  • Slang
translation icon : hacer un berrinche
  • Whenever he can't find his favorite toy, he tends to throw wobblies until someone helps him.

Examples

  • She started to throw wobblies over the smallest inconveniences after a long day at work.

  • She always throws wobblies when things don't go her way.

  • The coach was known to throw wobblies when the team wasn't performing well.

  • Don't throw wobblies over small issues!

  • She tends to throw wobblies when she is frustrated with her homework.

  • It's best to stay calm and not throw wobblies during tough situations.

  • After not getting his way at the party, he started to throw wobblies in front of everyone.

Synonyms

to throw a tantrum
vsto throw wobblies
  • Informal
18 4.4

To show sudden strong anger or upset, often like a child

is informal British and stresses childish exaggeration rather than neutral anger
to throw a fit
vsto throw wobblies
  • Informal
12 6.1

To suddenly become very angry or upset in a loud, obvious way

often implies childish or exaggerated behaviour rather than merely visible anger
to fly off the handle
vsto throw wobblies
  • Informal
11 6.8

To suddenly become very angry

is more childish and exaggerated rather than a simple loss of temper
to fly off
vsto throw wobblies
  • Informal
7 5.3

To suddenly get very angry without warning

is typically childish and dramatic rather than merely sudden and unexpected
to throw one's toys out of the pram
vsto throw wobblies
  • UK
1 9.9

To behave in a childish sulky way after not getting what you want

refers to sudden outbursts often without a specific disappointment trigger
to flip shit
vsto throw wobblies
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To suddenly become very angry

is more childish and exaggerated rather than extremely intense or coarse
to throw a wobbly
vsto throw wobblies
  • UK
9.9

To become suddenly very angry and upset in a dramatic way

is the plural informal British version rather than the singular form
to throw a dummy spit
vsto throw wobblies
  • UK
9.9

Have a childish angry outburst when you do not get your way

is mainly British and not specifically Australian in usage
to throw a snit
vsto throw wobblies
  • Informal
8.7

To suddenly become very angry or upset and act childishly

is chiefly British in usage rather than just broadly informal

Antonyms

calm
735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

How Angry

to throw wobblies
  • Slang
9.9
angry
∞ 1.0
annoyed
77 1.0
irritated
44 3.1

Surface Forms

throw wobblies infinitive
throwing wobblies present participle
throws wobblies third person singular
threw wobblies past
thrown wobblies past participle

Morphology

throw + wobblies

This is a chiefly British idiom where 'wobblies' (or 'a wobbly') means a fit of temper; that sense is not a predictable extension of the literal verb 'wobble' (to move unsteadily). Knowing 'throw' and the literal meaning of 'wobble' would not allow a B1 learner to infer 'have a sudden tantrum', so the expression is idiomatic and opaque.

Etymology

The idiom throw wobblies may come from a simple picture: someone who throws small, wobbling toys called wobblies in anger, acting noisy and childish. So the phrase now means 'to have a sudden outburst of anger'.