temper tantrum

American  

noun

1. tantrum.

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Usage

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.

Etymology

Origin of temper tantrum

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

But this dissent is not just a theatrical temper tantrum; it is a cry for help.

From Slate

Online there is much debate as to what caused this trumpet temper tantrum.

From BBC

New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman revealed the details of the GOP candidate’s latest temper tantrum during a CNN interview Wednesday night with Kaitlan Collins.

From Salon

Mets relief pitcher Jorge López threw a temper tantrum during a blowout loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times

Each of us was, at any given time, one captain’s announcement away from a temper tantrum, but we were also competitively careful to be polite to one another and to the airline staff, as if determined to demonstrate that those wild videos of short-tempered passengers being duct-taped to their seats did not represent us, the makeshift civilization of this departure lounge.

From New York Times

Related Words

• flare-up
• outburst
• temper