Meaning & use
in a sulky mood
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
feeling quietly angry and unwilling to talk or join in, usually because of a small disappointment.
Grammar: Used after be or get: she is in a sulky mood; he got in a sulky mood.
Patterns
- be in a sulky mood
- get in a sulky mood
- in a sulky mood about something
After losing the game, he sat in a sulky mood at the back of the bus.
She was in a sulky mood all evening because her friend forgot to call.
Don't get in a sulky mood just because we changed the plan.
Common combinations
- be in a sulky mood
- He's been in a sulky mood since breakfast.
- get in a sulky mood
- She gets in a sulky mood whenever she loses.
- in a sulky mood about something
- He was in a sulky mood about the seating plan.
- snap out of a sulky mood
- It took him an hour to snap out of his sulky mood.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sullen
- Sullen describes the same silent bad temper but sounds stronger and more lasting; use sulky for a childlike, passing mood.
- moody
- Moody means moods change often and unpredictably, while sulky focuses on one angry, silent mood.
- grumpy
- Grumpy is more about being irritable and complaining, not necessarily silent.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: in a sulky mood or sulky?
in a sulky mood vs sulky
As a noun, sulky is also a light two-wheeled carriage for one person, a meaning with no connection to the mood.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
'In a sulky mood' follows be and describes how someone feels, so option A fits. Option B wrongly adds 'to' as if it were a purpose, C uses the wrong preposition pattern, and D is missing the verb 'is'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “in a sulky mood”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.