conniption
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of conniption
An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; origin uncertain
Explanation
Don’t have a conniption! Here’s the definition — a conniption is a temper tantrum, and it’s not just for toddlers. "Don't have a conniption" is another way of saying, "Take it easy. Don't throw a fit." Conniptions are fits or tantrums. A screaming toddler is a perfect example of a conniption, but adults who lose their tempers have conniptions too. People have conniptions when they lose their cool and can't control themselves. If you’ve been waiting in line for two hours then someone jumps ahead and takes the last cupcake, go ahead and have a conniption.
Vocabulary lists containing conniption
Genesis Begins Again
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The Bean Trees
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Butterfly Yellow
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The fine-tuning ends only during the technical rehearsals, when any further changes would give the designers, board operators and stage managers conniption fits.
From New York Times • Mar. 29, 2023
It’s hard to put one’s finger on the cultural significance of Carlson’s conniption or Mars Wrigley’s retreat.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2023
He noted the differences in their styles: Abby sits, while Artis could work himself into a conniption, doing windmills and banging the spoons off his head and jaw.
From Washington Post • Oct. 29, 2018
He didn’t plan on it lasting five years and triggering a national conniption.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 11, 2018
I’d almost convinced myself that his summoning of the matchmaker had just been a conniption, that he’d done it purely to scare me straight.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
