Meaning & use
melodramatic sort
Last updated
Meanings
nounsingularinformalBritish
A person who tends to behave in an exaggerated, overemotional way.
Grammar: Usually singular and used with 'a': 'He's a melodramatic sort.'
Patterns
- be a melodramatic sort
- a bit of a melodramatic sort
My cousin is a melodramatic sort, so a small problem becomes a crisis.
She's a melodramatic sort and always tells stories with great feeling.
He's a bit of a melodramatic sort when he's tired.
nounsingularinformal
A kind of behavior or reaction that is exaggerated and overemotional.
Grammar: Used after 'of a ... sort' to describe a type of thing or behavior.
Patterns
- a reaction of a melodramatic sort
Her reply was of a melodramatic sort, full of tears and drama.
The complaints were of a melodramatic sort rather than serious.
Common combinations
- a bit of a melodramatic sort
- He's a bit of a melodramatic sort, so don't take his complaints too seriously.
- of a melodramatic sort
- The objections were of a melodramatic sort, more emotion than fact.
- a real melodramatic sort
- My aunt is a real melodramatic sort when the family gets together.
Synonyms and how they differ
- drama queen
- Drama queen is a stronger, often insulting label for someone who overreacts; 'a melodramatic sort' is softer and more descriptive.
- theatrical type
- Theatrical type suggests someone who enjoys performing; a melodramatic sort focuses on exaggerated emotion.
Word family
- melodrama noun
- a story or situation with exaggerated emotions.
- melodramatic adjective
- overemotional or exaggerated.
- sort noun
- a type or kind of person or thing.
Commonly confused: melodramatic sort or melodramatic sort of?
melodramatic sort vs melodramatic sort of
Don't confuse 'a melodramatic sort' (a kind of person) with 'a sort of melodrama' (a kind of story or event).
Practice
Which sentence uses 'melodramatic sort' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'A melodramatic sort' describes a person who is overemotional, so option A fits. The others misuse 'sort' as a verb or as a physical object or food.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “melodramatic sort”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.