acting out
phrasal verbUK /ˈæktɪŋ aʊt/
US /ˈæktɪŋ aʊt/
Showing big feelings by doing bad or silly things instead of talking about them.
The little boy was acting out because he was tired and hungry.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. Performing a story or scene by pretending to be the characters.
The class is acting out the story of the three bears.
3. Doing something you have only imagined or talked about.
She acted out her dream of becoming a pirate.
4. Showing a feeling or idea through actions rather than words.
He acted out his anger by stomping his feet.