temper tantrum

noun

1. tantrum.

Word History and Origins

Origin of temper tantrum¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

I know all of this sounds incredibly petty, like a philosophy professor having a temper tantrum when he is denied a nerdy pleasure or his intellectual birthright.

From Outside Online

Any argument I try to hold comes tumbling out in the form of a whiny temper tantrum.

From The Daily Beast

An 8-year-old girl in Missouri was held in a police car for two hours after throwing a temper tantrum in March.

From The Daily Beast

Adler said she was punished because she “threw a temper tantrum on the House floor.”

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• flare-up
• outburst
• temper

More About Temper Tantrum

What does temper tantrum mean?

A temper tantrum is an angry outburst by someone who has lost their temper in reaction to something they didn’t want to happen. The word tantrum by itself means the same thing.

Temper tantrums are often loud and they can be violent. A child kicking and screaming in response to being told to turn off the TV is having a temper tantrum.

The phrase is typically used to refer to an outburst by a young child, especially a toddler. But it can also be used to refer to an outburst by an adult. When used this way, it’s intended to criticize the person for being unreasonable and acting like a child.

Temper tantrum is often used with the verb throw, as in My son threw a temper tantrum right in the middle of the store.

Example: I work in customer service, so I’m used to dealing with temper tantrums from people who don’t get their way.

Where does temper tantrum come from?

The first records of the term temper tantrum come from around the 1920s. The first records of the word tantrum come from the 1700s, but its ultimate origin is uncertain.

If you’ve ever seen a toddler erupt in screams of rage and start stomping and rolling around over not getting something they wanted, you’ve witnessed a temper tantrum. Young children are still learning how to manage their emotions, so it’s common for them to have occasional temper tantrums, even over things that don’t seem like a big deal. When an adult throws a temper tantrum, it may not involve literal yelling and screaming—an angry social media post in ALL CAPS over some minor problem might be called a temper tantrum. Saying that an adult is throwing a temper tantrum is always intended to be a criticism of that person.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for temper tantrum?

• tantrum
• fit
• outburst

What are some words that share a root or word element with temper tantrum? 

 

• temper
• tantrum
• temperament

What are some words that often get used in discussing temper tantrum?

• throw
• have
• child
• toddler
• kid
• kick
• scream

How is temper tantrum used in real life?

Children sometimes throw temper tantrums when they don’t get what they want. When the term is applied to an outburst by an adult, it’s used in a critical way that’s intended to imply that that person is acting like a child.

[playground]

Other dad: Which kid is yours?

Me: *looks at 2-year-old throwing temper tantrum for no reason* I don't remember.

— James Breakwell, Exploding Unicorn (@XplodingUnicorn) February 21, 2017

Just watched a 5 yr old kid thank his dad for taking him out and buying him lunch and i also watched a 16 yr old kid have a temper tantrum over getting the iphone 11 and not the iphone 11 pro max.. the mall is a wierd place

— Jenna (@jennafavret) December 26, 2019

Nothing worse than listening to a grown man have a temper tantrum over a video game. 😒

— Jenne 🎃🦖 (@JenneWithAnE) November 29, 2015

 

 

Try using temper tantrum!

Is temper tantrum used correctly in the following sentence?

I just saw a customer throw a temper tantrum at the server because the restaurant was out of ketchup.