act up

• (UK) enPR: ŭp, IPA^(key): /ækt ˈʌp/, [ækˈtɐʔp]
• (US) enPR: ŭp, IPA^(key): /ækt ˈʌp/, [ækˈtʌp̚]
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ækt ˈap/, [ækˈtäp]

  • Audio (AU)

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ʌp

act up (third-person singular simple present acts up, present participle acting up, simple past and past participle acted up)

1. (intransitive, idiomatic) To misbehave; to cause trouble.

   Synonyms: carry on, act out, play up

   My allergies act up during hay fever season.

   Children may act up in class in an effort to get attention.

2. (intransitive, idiomatic) To perform the duties of an appointment senior to that actually held; to deputise for a superior. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

   Acting up is always recommended when you find yourself under a new boss.

• throw a tantrum

• caput