act out

act out
phrasal verb [transitive]
Word forms "act out":
present tense I/you/we/they act out he/she/it acts out present participle acting out past tense acted out past participle acted out
1) to show the events that happened in a situation by doing them again or by doing the same things as the people involved

The scenarios that the trainees act out are videotaped.

2) to express your thoughts or feelings through your words or behaviour

He was acting out his feelings of inferiority by being overly aggressive.

3) to do something that you have planned or had previously only thought of doing

Just imagining these things is fine, as long as you don't try to act them out.


English dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • act out — {v.} 1. To show an idea, story, or happening by your looks, talk, and movements. * /He tried to act out a story that he had read./ 2. To put into action. * /All his life he tried to act out his beliefs./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • act out — {v.} 1. To show an idea, story, or happening by your looks, talk, and movements. * /He tried to act out a story that he had read./ 2. To put into action. * /All his life he tried to act out his beliefs./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • act out — ( )akt au̇t vt to express (as an impulse or a fantasy) directly in overt behavior without modification to comply with social norms <act out an adolescent fantasy> vi to behave badly or in a socially unacceptable often self defeating manner… …   Medical dictionary

  • act out — index impersonate Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • act out — verb 1. represent an incident, state, or emotion by action, especially on stage (Freq. 1) She could act neurotic anxiety • Hypernyms: ↑act, ↑play, ↑represent • Verb Frames: Somebody s something …   Useful english dictionary

  • act out — verb Date: 1611 transitive verb 1. a. to represent in action < children act out what they read > b. to translate into action < unwilling to act out their beliefs > 2. to express (as an …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • act out — verb a) To go through the process of a scene from a play, a charade or a pointless exercise. Despite already being aware, he will act out the pretence of a surprise. b) To express ones feelings through disruptive actions. I know youre angry, but… …   Wiktionary

  • act\ out — v 1. To show an idea, story, or happening by your looks, talk, and movements. He tried to act out a story that he had read. 2. To put into action. All his life he tried to act out his beliefs …   Словарь американских идиом

  • act out — PHRASAL VERB If you act out an event which has happened, you copy the actions which took place and make them into a play. [V P n (not pron)] The group acts out the stories in such a way that the members experience really being there. [Also V n P] …   English dictionary

  • 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) …   New idioms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”