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Glite Dictionary
to throw a fit

to throw a fit

18 6.1
To suddenly become very angry or upset in a loud, obvious way
  • idiom
  • Informal
: hacer una rabieta
  • When he found out what they contained, he threw a fit and confronted Jack with his information about the contents.
  • going to throw a fit
  • throw a fit now
  • little girl threw a fit

They can tell that they were too stupid for the task, and they throw a fit and they sulk.

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Examples

  • She threw a fit at school.

    Orphan (2009)

  • When they came out of the caves and Pauline didn't show up, Marie-Louise, the little girl, threw a fit.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • My dad would throw a fit if I used anything else!

    After Midnight (1989)

  • "It's broke," he said, like he was about to throw a fit.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Yesterday, while I was waiting in line at a store, a little boy threw a fit.

    Blog text (29)

  • Becky would throw a fit if she saw one of those on me.

    Calendar Girl (1993)

  • When she sees this, she's going to throw a fit.

    Stuart Little 2 (2002)

  • She'll probably throw a fit right there at the check-out counter.

    Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

  • He always throws a fit when I stray from the lesson plan.

    Derailed (2005)

  • He always throws a fit when his favorite show is canceled.

Synonyms

to lose it
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
326 7.5

Suddenly stop controlling your feelings and become very angry or upset

is similar but is often used when the reaction is more public
to erupt
vsto throw a fit
117 4.2

To suddenly start in a strong or violent way, often showing strong feeling

is similar but is used more for personal sudden angry or upset reactions
to explode
vsto throw a fit
114 3.5

To suddenly show a strong feeling, often anger

is similar but focuses on anger or upset rather than any emotion
to blow up
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
66 4.7

To suddenly become very angry and lose control

is similar but may stress visible dramatics rather than lasting anger
to go berserk
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
32 7.7

To become very angry and act out of control

is similar but usually less violent and less extreme in behaviour
to go ballistic
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
29 7.5

Suddenly become very angry

is similar but can be less about explosive fury and more general upset
to have a fit
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
28 5.3

To suddenly become very angry or upset and show it strongly

is similar but can be less intense or less visible
to throw a tantrum
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
15 4.4

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

is similar but applies to sudden angry or upset reactions generally
to pop off
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
8 8.1

To suddenly say something angry without warning

is similar but can focus more on speaking out than visible upset
to fly off
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
8 5.3

To suddenly get very angry without warning

is similar but sometimes implies a more theatrical attention seeking display
to fly off the handle
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
8 6.8

To suddenly become very angry

is similar but can emphasise visible dramatic reactions rather than quick flashes
to boil over
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
8 4.8

To suddenly lose control and show strong anger

is similar but often stresses a build up before the sudden release
to see red
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
6 6.8

To become very angry suddenly

is similar but often indicates immediate extreme fury more than general upset
to blow a fuse
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
6 7.4

To suddenly become very angry

is similar but often less about complete loss of self control
to hit the roof
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
4 6.7

To suddenly become very angry

is similar but may be used for slightly less violent expressions
to flip shit
vsto throw a fit
  • Offensive
3 9.9

To suddenly become very angry

is similar but is usually less coarse in normal speech
to burst a blood vessel
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
2 6.9

To become very angry or upset in a way people notice

is similar but carries stronger implication of physical or extreme stress
to hit the ceiling
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
1 6.8

To suddenly get very angry

is similar but can also include upset without shocked outrage
to flip your lid
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
1 8.6

To suddenly become very angry and lose control

is similar but may be less slangy or aggressive in everyday use
to lose one's shit
vsto throw a fit
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To suddenly become very angry or upset in a way you cannot control

is similar but usually less vulgar or less extreme in tone
to go off on one
vsto throw a fit
  • UK
1 9.9

To suddenly get very angry and speak loudly for a long time

is similar but usually refers to shorter sudden visible reactions
to have kittens
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
1 8.8

Become very upset or angry in a way that is too strong

is similar but often adds anxiety rather than pure anger
to lose one's temper
vsto throw a fit
1 3.7

To suddenly become very angry and not be able to control yourself

is similar but often shows outward dramatic or visible behaviour
to go into a tizzy
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
1 8.3

Get very upset and confused quickly

is similar but includes confusion or agitation rather than only anger
to throw a wobbly
vsto throw a fit
  • UK
1 9.9

To become suddenly very angry and upset in a dramatic way

is similar but also covers private or milder reactions
to throw wobblies
vsto throw a fit
  • Slang
1 9.9

To have a sudden angry outburst like a child's tantrum

is more general and not limited to exaggerated behaviour
to throw a snit
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
1 8.7

To suddenly become very angry or upset and act childishly

is similar but does not always carry childish connotation
to lose one's cool
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
1 5.9

To suddenly become very angry and fail to control your feelings

is similar but may also include dramatic visible upset beyond stress cases
to begin to fume
vsto throw a fit
1 5.8

Start to show obvious anger, often with a red face and raised voice

is similar but implies a slower onset before the sudden dramatic outburst
to throw a dummy spit
vsto throw a fit
  • UK
9.9

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

is like that but can describe adult or less childish reactions
to blow one's stack
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
8.6

Suddenly get very angry and show it

is similar but can be used for less extreme visible upset
to blow one's top
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
8.0

To suddenly become very angry

is broader and can mean sudden upset without full loss of control
to flip one's wig
vsto throw a fit
  • Informal
9.9

To suddenly become very angry and lose control of yourself

is similar but often lacks surprise and focuses on anger alone
to flip the bitch switch
vsto throw a fit
  • Offensive
9.9

To suddenly become very angry and behave in a mean way

is similar but is more neutral and less vulgar in tone
to radge over
vsto throw a fit
  • UK
9.9

Get very angry or upset about small things

is similar but usually applies broadly and not only to small provocations

Antonyms

to keep one's temper
1 4.4

Stay calm and not get angry in a difficult situation

How Angry

to go berserk
  • Informal
32 7.7
to fly off the handle
  • Informal
8 6.8
to throw a fit
  • Informal
18 6.1
to upset
273 1.0
annoyed
143 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

throw + a + fit

The noun 'fit' denotes a sudden paroxysm of emotion and 'throw' is used metaphorically to mean 'produce/express', so a learner who knows both words could partially infer the idea of producing a sudden emotional outburst. However, the collocational use of 'throw' with 'fit' (i.e., 'have/express a tantrum') is idiomatic enough that the exact sense and pragmatic usage are not fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

The idiom throw a fit may come from older English use where a fit meant a sudden attack or tantrum and throw meant to put someone into that state. So it gives the picture of a person suddenly having a wild outburst, which is why it means 'to become very angry or upset'.