act Out

act something out 

1. to perform in real life a role that one has imagined in a fantasy. When I was onstage, I was really acting an old fantasy out. I acted out an old fantasy onstage.

2. to convert one's bad feelings into action rather than words. Don't act your aggressions out on me! She acted out her aggression.

3. to demonstrate or communicate something through gestures or action rather than words. Act your request out, if you can't say it. She had a sore throat and had to act out her request.

See also: act, out

act Out

to behave badly. (Usually used to describe young people.) Your son has been acting out in the classroom, and his teacher feels that professional intervention is desirable.

See also: act, out

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act out

to behave badly because you are unhappy or upset These kids are very angry and act out because their lives are a mess.

Etymology: based on the idea of acting out a story (telling a story through physical actions)

See also: act, out