terrible twos

American  

[ter-uh-buhl tooz] / ˈtɛr ə bəl ˈtuz /

plural noun

1. a developmental phase in some toddlers characterized by temper tantrums, mood swings, defiance, and territorial behaviors.

   The terrible twos have reduced my kiddo’s vocabulary to two words, “mine” and “no!”

---

Etymology

Origin of terrible twos

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

According to Long, the pup was in a stage akin to the terrible twos.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2024

Over and over in this year’s films, male characters throw elaborate temper tantrums, whining, huffing and raging like toddlers in their terrible twos.

From New York Times • Dec. 27, 2023

On her third birthday, she overheard my husband saying to me that the year of the terrible twos was finally coming to an end.

From Washington Post • Apr. 13, 2023

"She is growing up, turning into a little girl, hitting the terrible twos," her father Terry says with a laugh.

From BBC • Oct. 2, 2022

One could find few pictures of my sister Tiffany, but Melina had entire albums devoted to her terrible twos.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris