Meaning & use
wobbler
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Meanings
nouncountableinformalBritishhumorous
A sudden burst of anger or panic, usually shown by a childish loss of control, as in throw a wobbler.
Grammar: Almost always in the idiom throw a wobbler or have a wobbler.
Patterns
- throw a wobbler
- have a wobbler
He threw a wobbler when he saw the parking ticket.
She had a bit of a wobbler before the interview.
The manager threw a wobbler at the team after the late delivery.
nouncountablerare
A person or thing that wobbles, or moves unsteadily from side to side.
Grammar: Literal and uncommon; usually describes a thing, such as a toy or a table.
The table is a bit of a wobbler since one leg is shorter.
The toddler was a wobbler on his first day of walking.
Word forms
| plural | wobblers |
|---|
Common combinations
- throw a wobbler
- Don't throw a wobbler over a small mistake.
- have a wobbler
- I had a wobbler when I saw the repair bill.
- bit of a wobbler
- Her sudden refusal was a bit of a wobbler.
- wobbler about something
- He had a wobbler about the price.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tantrum
- Tantrum is a childish outburst of temper and is more widely understood than wobbler, which is British slang.
- strop
- Strop is another British word for a sulky bad mood, quieter than a full wobbler.
- fit
- Fit, as in throw a fit, means an angry outburst and is neutral across varieties of English.
- meltdown
- Meltdown suggests a dramatic breakdown of control and is stronger than wobbler.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: wobbler or wobble?
wobbler vs wobble
A wobble is a shaky movement, while throw a wobbler means to lose your temper.
Practice
My little brother threw a ___ when we said he couldn't stay up late.
Choose one answer.
Throw a wobbler is the British idiom for a sudden loss of temper. Waffle, wrangle and whisper do not fit that phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “wobbler”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.