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You may have heard the popular idiomatic term ‘conniption fit’ used in the English language. But what is the meaning of this term and how can we use it in our conversations? We are going to look further into this phrase and find out where it came from and what it is used for.
“Conniption Fit” Meaning, Origin and Usage
Key Takeaways
- A “conniption fit” refers to an outburst of anger, frustration, or excitement. It describes a situation where someone reacts very strongly and emotionally, often in a dramatic or exaggerated way. The phrase is usually used humorously or informally.
“Conniption Fit” Meaning
The phrase “conniption fit” refers to an outburst of anger, hysteria, or extreme frustration. It describes a situation where someone reacts with exaggerated emotions, often in a dramatic or over-the-top manner. The term can imply a loss of control over one’s emotions, leading to tantrums or fits of rage.
Examples:
- “When she found out her plans had been canceled, she threw a conniption fit.”
- “He had a conniption fit over the minor changes in the project.”
Origin of this idiom
The term ‘conniption fit’ is believed to have originated from the words ‘corruption’ which was used to describe anger in a person many years ago. The phrase was altered slightly to give the word ‘conniption’ which we use today.
Usage of “Conniption Fit”
- Describing someone’s reaction:
“My boss had a conniption fit when the project wasn’t finished on time.”
- In a family setting:
“Dad is going to have a conniption fit when he sees the dent in the car!”
- Talking about a stressful situation:
“The teacher had a conniption fit when the students wouldn’t stop talking during class.”
- In a humorous context:
“She’ll have a conniption fit if she finds out we ate the last slice of cake.”
Related Terms to “Conniption Fit”
- Tantrum – an uncontrolled outburst of anger, typically used in the context of children.
- Hissy fit – a slang term for a temper tantrum or fit of anger, often used informally.
- Freak out – to become extremely agitated or upset, often resulting in a dramatic reaction.
- Fit of rage – an episode of intense anger that may lead to loss of control.
- Outburst – a sudden release of strong emotion, often anger or frustration.
- Rage – a strong feeling of anger that can lead to explosive reactions.
- Blow-up – a sudden and intense display of anger or frustration.
- Crisis – a situation of intense difficulty or danger that can provoke strong emotional responses.
- Emotional meltdown – a breakdown in emotional control, often leading to a fit of crying or anger.
- Snit – a state of agitation or annoyance, often leading to a minor emotional outburst.
Other Ways to Say the Phrase
There are many other ways in which you might express the meaning of the term ‘conniption fit.’ Here are a few examples of other ways you can say it.
- Have a tantrum
- Lose it
- Having a huff
- Onslaught
“Conniption Fit” Examples
Example Sentences
You might use this phrase to talk about someone who is reacting in an overly dramatic way to a situation. You might say something along the lines of
- ‘Look at Bob, he is having a conniption fit because he is late for his meeting.’
You might also use it as a way of telling someone to stop over reacting to something.
- ‘Stop your conniption fit, it’s only a spider, there is no need to react like that.’
Conversation Examples
You can use the term ‘conniption fit’ in various different conversations, here are a couple of examples of how it might look.
Conversation 1:
- Person 1: “Oh my goodness! What am I going to do, oh no, oh no, oh no!”
- Person 2: “Why are you having a conniption fit? Calm yourself down.”
Conversation 2:
- Person 1: “I saw David yesterday, he was so worked up over nothing.”
- Person 2: “He is always having a conniption fit about things.”
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