Meaning & use
fits of pique
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Meaning
phrasepluralformal
Sudden feelings of anger or annoyance caused by wounded pride or a sense of being slighted.
Grammar: Used as a plural noun phrase: He has fits of pique. Often with 'in' or 'of': in a fit of pique.
Patterns
- in a fit of pique
- fits of pique
- have fits of pique
She left the party in a fit of pique after no one complimented her dress.
His fits of pique often upset the whole team.
In a fit of pique, he refused to attend the meeting.
Common combinations
- in a fit of pique
- He slammed the door in a fit of pique.
- fits of pique
- Her fits of pique made her difficult to work with.
- a fit of pique
- The decision was made in a fit of pique, not rationally.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
Commonly confused: fits of pique or peak?
fits of pique vs peak
Peak means the top of a mountain or highest point; pique is a feeling of resentment. They sound the same but are different words.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'fits of pique' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 1 is correct: 'fits of pique' is the plural phrase, and 'ignored' is the correct past participle. Option 2 uses 'peak', which is a different word. Option 3 uses 'ignore' instead of 'ignored'. Option 4 uses the singular 'fit' without an article, which is not standard in this phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fits of pique”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.