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!”

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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

"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

Hearing about the terrible twos and threenagers made Johnson brace for a nightmare.

From Washington Post • Dec. 9, 2019

These are habits that establish oral care as a routine early on, making kids more compliant when they hit the terrible twos.

From Slate • Jul. 29, 2016

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