Misbehave

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Misbehave" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone acting inappropriately or not following rules, often in a playful or informal context. Example: "The children tend to misbehave when they are not supervised."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unless this pitch starts to misbehave, which seems unlikely, this is going to be another tough day for bowlers.

The Guardian - Sport

Clarkson denied reports last month that he had been warned by the BBC not to misbehave while filming in Argentina following a string of controversies involving the presenter and the long-running motoring series, BBC2's most popular show with around 6 million viewers a week.

The Guardian

That means more voter participation – in picking topics for debate and recalling MPs who misbehave – as well more power to the backbenches and open primaries, not small party cabals, to pick candidates.

The Guardian

A microcosm of the team's penchant for self-inflicted wounds was when then-coach Chelis commented, "When my children misbehave, I will tell them that I will send them to Utah," before a match against Real Salt Lake in March.

The Guardian - Sport

In the Soviet era, hooligans were often locked up for several years even for a first offence; few young Russians dared misbehave at a football match or pop concert.

The Economist

Selling options is a splendid way of making money when markets behave themselves and indeed such a strategy has made huge profits for those that have done so over the past couple of years.The problem comes when markets misbehave, which happens far more frequently than the sellers of options allow for.

The Economist

They misbehave, they break the dishes, make an awful lot of noise, and they are scaring away other customers".Mr Kenyon steers his parties towards hotels, bars and restaurants that like that kind of business.

The Economist

The petty criminals who raced past him were expected not to misbehave again.

The Economist

Critics often complain that charter schools are less helpful to students with special needs, and less lenient when students misbehave.

The Economist

The aim is a calm, secure working environment that tells children they have left their home lives and come somewhere different: school, where they come to learn.When they misbehave, even young pupils are invited to consider what they have done, and asked if they think they could have done something different.

The Economist

In 2013 TalkTalk alleged that Openreach was charging too much for network access, threatening its profitability but not that of BT, which pays the wholesale charge to itself.Ofcom poured cold water on that complaint, but it worries that BT might have an incentive to misbehave in future.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions that violate social norms or rules, use "misbehave" to convey a sense of mild impropriety rather than severe misconduct. It's effective for describing children's actions or playful disobedience.

Common error

Avoid using "misbehave" in formal or professional settings when more precise terms like "malfeasance" or "breach of conduct" are appropriate. "Misbehave" can sound too casual for serious infractions.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "Misbehave" is as an intransitive verb, indicating an action performed by a subject. It describes the act of behaving improperly or inappropriately. Ludwig examples showcase its use in diverse contexts, from describing children's actions to the conduct of institutions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

1.7%

Formal & Business

1.7%

Less common in

Science

1.7%

Unknown/unmatched sources

25.9%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Misbehave" is a versatile verb used to describe actions that deviate from expected or acceptable behavior. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in tone, it tends towards informal, and more precise terms may be preferred in formal or scientific writing. When considering alternatives, "act improperly" or "behave badly" can serve as direct substitutes, while "act up" implies a more sudden, disruptive episode.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Behave badly

A straightforward alternative, indicating negative or undesirable conduct.

Act improperly

Focuses on the inappropriateness of the action, suggesting a violation of rules or norms.

Get out of line

Implies crossing established boundaries or exceeding acceptable limits.

Conduct oneself poorly

Emphasizes the manner of behavior, highlighting a lack of decorum or etiquette.

Be disruptive

Focuses on the disturbance caused by the behavior, emphasizing its impact on others.

Act up

Suggests a sudden or temporary episode of disruptive behavior, often used for children.

Create a disturbance

Similar to 'be disruptive' but more active, emphasizing the creation of chaos or disorder.

Cause trouble

Highlights the disruptive and problematic nature of the behavior.

Go astray

Indicates a deviation from a correct or moral path, suggesting a loss of guidance.

Transgress

Formally indicates a violation of laws or moral principles.

FAQs

How can I use "Misbehave" in a sentence?

You can use "Misbehave" to describe someone acting inappropriately or not following rules. For example, "The children tend to "misbehave" when they are not supervised."

What are some alternatives to "Misbehave"?

You can use alternatives like "act improperly", "behave badly", or "act up" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "Misbehave" and "act out"?

"Misbehave" generally implies a broader range of inappropriate behaviors, while "act out" often refers to expressing emotions or internal conflicts through disruptive behavior.

Is "Misbehave" appropriate for formal writing?

While "Misbehave" is widely understood, it might be too informal for certain professional or academic contexts. In those cases, consider using more precise terms like "engage in misconduct" or "violate regulations".