Acting Up

Pronunciation: /ˈæk.tɪŋ ʌp/

Definitions of acting up

verb to behave or function in a disruptive or unruly manner

Example Sentences

A1 My computer is acting up and I can't open any programs.

A2 The car started acting up on the highway, so we had to pull over.

B1 The child's behavior in class has been acting up lately, causing disruptions.

B2 The old printer has been acting up again, so I might need to get it repaired.

C1 The politician's past scandals are acting up and affecting his current campaign.

C2 The CEO's health issues are acting up, leading to concerns about the company's future.

Examples of acting up in a Sentence

formal The computer system is acting up and causing delays in the project.

informal My phone keeps acting up and freezing on me.

slang I think my car is acting up again, it keeps making weird noises.

figurative Her emotions were acting up, causing her to lash out unexpectedly.

Grammatical Forms of acting up

• past tense: acted up
• plural: act up
• comparative: more acting up
• superlative: most acting up
• present tense: acts up
• future tense: will act up
• perfect tense: have acted up
• continuous tense: is acting up
• singular: acts up
• positive degree: act up
• infinitive: to act up
• gerund: acting up
• participle: acting up

Origin and Evolution of acting up

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The phrase 'acting up' originated from the verb 'act' combined with the adverb 'up' to indicate a behavior or performance that is out of the ordinary or disruptive.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in the context of theatrical performances to describe an actor's exaggerated or exaggerated performance, the phrase 'acting up' later evolved to refer to someone behaving in a troublesome or unruly manner in various situations.