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Wowenglish Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Acting up

I wonder if there is any difference between "1" and "2".
1. The kids are acting up again.
2. The kids have been acting again.
  

Top answer

"Acting up" and "acting out" are fixed expressions - possibly idioms. They refer to forms of misbehavior. " "Pretending to be X" could be "for fun," or it could be for some devious purpose: pretending to be sick, pretending to have been kicked out of school.

— Avangi

  • "Acting up" and "acting out" are fixed expressions - possibly idioms.
  • They refer to forms of misbehavior.
  • " "Pretending to be X" could be "for fun," or it could be for some devious purpose: pretending to be sick, pretending to have been kicked out of school.
  • It would be different from a simple lie in that the "actor" affects the false emotional state.
  • Quit acting!
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2 Answers
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"Acting up" and "acting out" are fixed expressions - possibly idioms. They refer to forms of misbehavior.

"The children are acting," in the generic sense could mean they are performing in a play; or "play acting," as in "pretending to be X."

"Pretending to be X" could be "for fun," or it could be for some devious purpose: pretending to be sick, pretending to have been ki
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1. The kids are acting up again. -- Fine; "acting up" = misbehaving.

2. The kids have been acting again. -- Correct English, but has a different meaning, referring to their participation in a stage performance, or something of that nature. (At least, I am not familiar with the use of "acting" to mean anything like "acting up".)
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