hissy fit

See also: hissyfit and hissy-fit

English

Etymology

Clipping of histrionics.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

hissy fit (plural hissy fits)

1. (informal) A childish display of anger or frustration; an overly dramatic tantrum.

   Synonyms: tantrum, outburst, shit fit, snit fit, (UK) wobbler; see also Thesaurus:tantrum

   • 1996 May 13, David E. Thigpen, “If You Could Hear Her Now”, in Time:

     Viewers were aghast. . . . As co-host Regis Philbin flinched, Gifford launched into a teary, it's-not-my-fault, TV hissy fit: "You can say I'm ugly, you can say I'm not talented, but when you say I don't care about children, how dare you!"

   • 2006, Stephen Weeks, The White Horses:

     (Can we find and add a quotation of Stephen Weeks to this entry?)