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Glite Dictionary
to throw a snit

to throw a snit

8.7
To suddenly become very angry or upset and act childishly
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : hacer un berrinche
  • When she didn't get her way, she decided to throw a snit and refused to talk to anyone.

Examples

  • John Cole: In all fairness, the Republican coalition does occasionally throw a snit fit and demand its own.

    Blog text (11)

  • He tends to throw a snit if things don't go his way during the game.

  • Whenever they don't let him play, he just throws a snit and storms off to his room.

Synonyms

to explode
vsto throw a snit
187 3.5

To suddenly show a strong feeling, often anger

is a sudden childish upset rather than a forceful adult expression
to go ballistic
vsto throw a snit
  • Informal
22 7.5

Suddenly become very angry

is typically more childish and exaggerated than explosive fury
to throw a tantrum
vsto throw a snit
  • Informal
18 4.4

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

is more childish and exaggerated in behavior
to blow up
vsto throw a snit
  • Informal
16 4.7

To suddenly become very angry and lose control

is more childish and exaggerated rather than losing temper in force
to have a fit
vsto throw a snit
  • Informal
16 5.3

To suddenly become very angry or upset and show it strongly

is more childish and exaggerated in behaviour than a strong reaction
to throw a fit
vsto throw a snit
  • Informal
12 6.1

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

is more childish and exaggerated in tone rather than only dramatic
to fly off the handle
vsto throw a snit
  • Informal
11 6.8

To suddenly become very angry

is more childish and exaggerated rather than abrupt temper loss
to bristle at
vsto throw a snit
8 7.4

Show sudden anger or annoyance because of something someone says

is a childish dramatic reaction rather than only indignation
to fly off
vsto throw a snit
  • Informal
7 5.3

To suddenly get very angry without warning

is more childish and exaggerated than general sudden upset
to hit the roof
vsto throw a snit
  • Informal
4 6.7

To suddenly become very angry

is more childish and exaggerated rather than outright furious rage
to blow one's stack
vsto throw a snit
  • Informal
2 8.6

Suddenly get very angry and show it

is more childish and exaggerated rather than total temper loss
to blow a fuse
vsto throw a snit
  • Informal
1 7.4

To suddenly become very angry

is more childish and exaggerated instead of sudden adult rage
to pop off
vsto throw a snit
  • Informal
1 8.1

To suddenly say something angry without warning

is more childish and dramatic rather than only speaking out angrily
to throw one's toys out of the pram
vsto throw a snit
  • UK
1 9.9

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

is a sudden outburst rather than ongoing sulky behavior
to flip shit
vsto throw a snit
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To suddenly become very angry

is more childish and exaggerated rather than crude abrupt rage
to throw wobblies
vsto throw a snit
  • Slang
9.9

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

is the general informal term used outside that regional label
to throw a wobbly
vsto throw a snit
  • UK
9.9

To become suddenly very angry and upset in a dramatic way

is more about childish exaggerated upset than sheer drama
to throw a dummy spit
vsto throw a snit
  • UK
9.9

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

is the broader informal form beyond that regional usage
to radge over
vsto throw a snit
  • UK
9.9

Get very angry or upset about small things

is more childish and exaggerated rather than only anger at small things
to go into a tizzy
vsto throw a snit
  • Informal
8.3

Get very upset and confused quickly

is focused on childish exaggerated anger rather than general agitation
to take huff
vsto throw a snit
  • Informal
8.5

To get upset because you think someone treated you badly

is a sudden childish outburst rather than a mild offended feeling
to bristle up
vsto throw a snit
7.9

Show sudden anger, often by becoming tense in the face or voice

is more childish and exaggerated, not merely visible irritation
to blow one's top
vsto throw a snit
  • Informal
8.0

To suddenly become very angry

is more childish and exaggerated rather than general temper loss
to go shitnuts
vsto throw a snit
  • Offensive
9.9

To suddenly become very angry or upset without control

is more childish and exaggerated rather than vulgar uncontrolled anger
to flip the bitch switch
vsto throw a snit
  • Offensive
9.9

To suddenly become very angry and behave in a mean way

is more childish and exaggerated rather than aggressive confrontation
to hit the bitch switch
vsto throw a snit
  • Offensive
9.9

To suddenly become very angry and act aggressive

is more childish and exaggerated rather than aimed at hostility

Antonyms

to calm down
  • Informal
594 1.4

To become less angry, excited, or upset

to keep it together
  • Informal
27 5.4

To stay calm and control your feelings in a difficult situation

How Angry

to throw a tantrum
  • Informal
18 4.4
to throw a fit
  • Informal
12 6.1
to throw a snit
  • Informal
8.7
to sulk
42 3.5
annoyed
77 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

throw + a + snit

The noun 'snit' means a state of irritation and the pattern 'throw a + [noun for an emotional state]' (e.g. 'throw a fit', 'throw a tantrum') is productive in English, so a learner who knows both words can infer it means to exhibit that irritated/angry state. The phrase therefore composes predictably from its parts rather than being an arbitrary idiom.

Etymology

The verb throw a snit may come from the image of someone suddenly throwing themselves into a small angry mood called a snit, like a child flinging a tantrum. So, it means 'to become very angry or upset' and act in a childish way.