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Act Up

What Does "Act Up" Mean?

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"Act up" is an English idiom. It means "to misbehave or malfunction."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "act up" used in a sentence:
  • The children began to act up during the assembly.
  • My computer has been acting up; I think I need to reboot.
  • Every time he wants attention, he starts to act up.
meaning for act up

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Act Up" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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