act up

Verb CEFR B2

ækt ˈʌp

Definitions

To misbehave; to cause trouble.
idiomatic, intransitive
To perform the duties of an appointment senior to that actually held; to deputise for a superior.
idiomatic, intransitive

Equivalents

Españolalterarse dar guerra

Françaiscourir sur le haricot déconner énerverenquiquiner faire n'importe quoi importuner péter les pruneaux

Deutschbocken

6 more languages

Esperantopetoli

Suomikiukkuilla kiukutella konstaillaoikutella piiputtaa pullikoida reistata tuittuilla vihoitella

Magyarrendetlenkedik

Polskibroić dać się we znaki dawać się we znakidokazywać łobuzować odmawiać posłuszeństwa odmówić posłuszeństwa psocić rozrabiać

Svenskakrångla spöka strula

Tiếng Việtgiở chứng

Examples

“My allergies act up during hay fever season.”

“Children may act up in class in an effort to get ⟳ attention.”

“My car started acting up after I drove through that huge puddle.”

“Acting up is always recommended when you find ⟳ yourself under a new boss.”

CEFR level

B2

Upper Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B2 vocabulary — upper intermediate level.

See all B2 English words →

See also

act upon Actaeon Actaeoned Actaeoning Actaeons acted

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