emmaprad

Hi everybody,
I know that "to act out" means "to play, to simulate". But I'd like to know if there is a secondary use of this phrasal verb as "to behave badly".
Thanks for your help.
Emma

jierbe31

Hi Emma,

I believe you're mistaken on the verb.
To act up means to behave badly. [quote COBUILD] If someone, especially a child, is acting up, they are behaving badly; an informal expression. EG I'm sorry he had to act up like this.[/quote]

Still, wait for some natives' advice.
I wouldn't like to mislead you a second time.

emmaprad

Still, wait for some natives' advice.
I wouldn't like to mislead you a second time.[/quote]



Hi jierbe,
the verb is it, I've verified. The whole phrase is:
"It was teenage rebellion, and I acted out for a number of years and slowly but surely straightened myself out, and now I'm make the world a better place". It's said in an ironic mode.
Your help is always appreciated!
Emma

MikeL

"Act out" can't mean the same as "act up".

To act out usually means to perform or carry out a rôle in real life, e.g. acting out a fantasy.

Most often, though, it is used with a direct object, as in the example above: you act out something.

emmaprad

Thank you very much Mike!
Emma

catachrest

This might be a regional difference - ie, maybe different dialects use it differently. In North America one can definitely use "to act out" to mean "to misbehave", and it usually has a connotation of acting badly out of a desire for attention. We also use to "act up" but a person probably wouldn't act up. A machine or other object (eg. a body part) might act up.

eg. My nephew's been acting out a lot lately. I wonder if everything's all right at home.
eg. The engine in my car is acting up. I'd better bring it in to the mechanic.
eg. My bad knee has been acting up again, and it's really sore.

emmaprad

Thank you for the specification, Catachrest!
Emma