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Synonyms

make a scene

Idioms  
  1. Also, create a scene; make an uproar. Make a public disturbance or excited emotional display. For example, Joan made a scene when the restaurant lost her dinner reservation, or Ted made an uproar over losing his luggage. Make a scene was first recorded in 1831; the variant employs uproar in the sense of “a noisy commotion,” a usage first recorded in 1548.


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.

You can make a scene and say “Get out, I won’t talk to you,” which makes you look crazy, or talk to them like they’re normal.

From Slate • Nov. 6, 2025

"We are going to block all the candidates wherever they arrive. We will make a scene," said farm activist Luz Maria Mendoza.

From Reuters • Jun. 27, 2023

I thought it was so disrespectful that he took it upon himself to be like, “OK, I’m out the door, one last hoorah, let me make a scene of myself.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 9, 2022

But he grit his teeth and did not make a scene.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 29, 2022

She was trying not to make a scene, and she dreaded her heart.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

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