INDEX:
1. to behave in a particular way
2. to behave well
3. to behave badly
4. to start to behave better
5. the way someone behaves
6. to behave towards someone in a particular way
7. the way you treat someone else
RELATED WORDS
someone who behaves badly : ↑ BAD (5-10)
someone who behaves well : ↑ GOOD (8-15)
to react to someone or something in a particular way : ↑ REACT
the way that someone behaves : ↑ WAY
see also
↑ POLITE
↑ RUDE
↑ SENSIBLE
↑ STUPID/SILLY
↑ CONVENTIONAL/UNCONVENTIONAL
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1. to behave in a particular way
▷ behave /bɪˈheɪv/ [intransitive verb]
the way someone behaves is the things that they do and say, and the effects these things have on other people :
▪ How does Sam behave at school?
behave towards
▪ William was behaving very strangely towards me.
behave well/badly/unreasonably etc
▪ I’m not going to talk to him until he starts behaving reasonably.
behave like
▪ Oh, be quiet! You’re behaving like a two-year-old.
behave as if
▪ The next time I saw him, Frank behaved as if nothing had happened.
▷ act /ækt/ [intransitive verb]
to behave in a particular way, especially in a way that seems unusual, surprising, or annoying to other people :
act like
▪ He has been accused of acting like a dictator.
act as if
▪ She acts as if she owns the place and we’re her servants.
act strangely/strange/stupid etc
▪ Tina’s been acting very strangely lately.
▪ You’re acting stupid and I don’t want to talk to you anymore.
▷ be /biː/ [verb]
be rude/helpful/silly etc
to behave in a rude, helpful, silly etc way :
▪ Don’t be so rude!
▪ The waiter was really friendly and helpful.
▪ Stop being silly!
▪ Why is she being so nice to us?
▷ conduct yourself /kənˈdʌkt jɔːʳˌself/ [verb phrase]
to behave in a particular way, especially in a situation where people will notice and judge the way you behave :
▪ Public figures have a duty to conduct themselves responsibly, even in their private lives.
▪ By the end of the course, you should be able to conduct yourself with confidence in any meeting.
▷ react /riˈækt/ [intransitive verb]
to say or do something because of what another person has said or done, or because of something that has happened :
▪ How did she react when you told her the news?
react angrily/violently/calmly
▪ Ned reacted angrily to Bill’s comments.
2. to behave well
▷ behave /bɪˈheɪv/ [intransitive verb] especially spoken
to do what people tell you and not cause any trouble - use this especially about children :
▪ If you two don’t behave, I’m taking you straight home.
behave yourself
behave well
▪ Make sure you behave yourselves when we visit Grandma.
▷ well-behaved /ˌwel bɪˈheɪvd◂/ [adjective]
someone who is well-behaved does not cause any trouble and does what other people tell them to do - use this especially about children, pets, or large groups of people :
▪ Can I bring my dog? She’s very well-behaved.
▪ a well-behaved child
▪ The crowd was noisy but well-behaved.
▷ good /gʊd/ [adjective]
if a child is good, he or she does not cause trouble and does what he or she is told to do :
▪ I was always very good at school.
▪ He’s a good little boy.
be good!
used to tell a child to behave well
▪ Bye now, Jessie. Be good.
▷ be on your best behaviour British /behavior American /biː ɒn jɔːʳ ˌbest bɪˈheɪvjəʳ/ [verb phrase]
to make a special effort to behave well by doing and saying the right things and being very polite, because you know other people are watching you :
▪ Dinner was very formal, with everyone on their best behaviour.
▷ stay out of trouble /ˌsteɪ aʊt əv ˈtrʌb ə l/ [verb phrase]
to try not to behave badly, especially because you do not want to be noticed or caught :
▪ Have a good time, boys, but try to stay out of trouble.
▪ If I stay out of trouble till June, my parents will take me to Florida.
▷ keep your nose clean /ˌkiːp jɔːʳ ˈnəʊz ˌkliːn/ [verb phrase] informal
to behave well, especially by not doing anything wrong or illegal :
▪ It’s not a great job, but if you keep your nose clean, you should be promoted by the end of the year.
▪ He’s been sentenced to seven years in prison, but he’ll be out in four if he keeps his nose clean.
▷ orderly /ˈɔːʳdəʳli/ [adjective]
an orderly crowd/demonstration/march etc
well-behaved and not violent or out of control :
▪ Police said it was an orderly demonstration and there were no arrests.
▪ The crowd were orderly and in good spirits.
3. to behave badly
▷ behave badly /bɪˌheɪv ˈbædli/ [verb phrase]
to be rude, unhelpful, or unpleasant and not do what you are told to do :
▪ I knew I’d behaved very badly, and I was sorry.
▪ The kids behaved so badly that I was embarrassed.
▷ badly behaved /ˌbædli bɪˈheɪvd/
someone who is badly behaved behaves badly - use this especially about children :
▪ The hotel was full of badly behaved celebrities.
▷ misbehave /ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪv/ [intransitive verb]
if children misbehave, they deliberately behave badly by being noisy, rude etc :
▪ Kids often misbehave when they are bored or tired.
▪ We never dared to misbehave in Miss Dill’s classes.
▷ get into trouble /ˌget ɪntə ˈtrʌb ə l/ [verb phrase]
if someone gets into trouble, they do something that is illegal or against the rules, especially something not very serious, and get caught doing it :
▪ Tony is always getting into trouble at school.
▪ Don’t copy my work or we’ll both get into trouble.
get into trouble with
▪ He first got into trouble with the police at the age of 15.
▷ be up to no good /biː ˌʌp tə nəʊ ˈgʊd/ [verb phrase]
if someone is up to no good, they are secretly doing something that they should not do - use this especially when you think someone may be doing something bad, but you are not completely sure :
▪ She knew that her brother was up to no good but she didn’t tell anyone.
▷ act up also play up British /ˌækt ˈʌp, ˌpleɪ ˈʌp/ [intransitive phrasal verb] informal
to behave badly by being very active and noisy - use this especially about children :
▪ During his parents’ divorce, Robert began acting up in class.
▪ The kids have been playing up all afternoon. They’re driving me mad.
▷ mess around also muck about British /ˌmes əˈraʊnd, ˌmʌk əˈbaʊt/ [intransitive phrasal verb] informal
to behave in a silly way when you should be working or paying attention :
▪ Stop messing around and pay attention!
▪ They just mucked about all afternoon and went home early.
mess around with
▪ Paul blew off his fingers messing around with homemade rockets.
▷ try it on /ˌtraɪ ɪt ˈɒn/ [verb phrase] British informal
to behave badly in order to find out how bad you can be before someone gets angry with you or punishes you :
▪ For your first few days’ teaching, the kids will probably try it on just to see how you react.
▪ At home she’s allowed to tell everyone what to do, but she wouldn’t dare try it on at work.
▷ step out of line /ˌstep aʊt əv ˈlaɪn/ [verb phrase]
to behave badly by breaking rules or disobeying orders, especially in a situation where everyone is expected to be very obedient :
▪ The prisoners were warned that if they stepped out of line they would be severely punished.
▪ The boss is very tough on anyone who steps out of line.
4. to start to behave better
▷ mend your ways /ˌmend jɔːʳ ˈweɪz/ [verb phrase]
to change the way you behave, and start being obedient, hard-working etc, after behaving badly for a long time :
▪ It’s possible the college might take you back, but first you’ll have to convince them you’ve mended your ways.
▪ If he doesn’t mend his ways he’ll be in jail by the time he’s eighteen.
▷ turn over a new leaf /ˌtɜːʳn əʊvər ə ˌnjuː ˈliːfǁ-ˌnuː-/ [verb phrase]
to decide that you will change the way you behave, because you really want to stop behaving badly, breaking the law etc :
▪ I know I’ve done some bad things in the past, but now I’m turning over a new leaf.
▪ After being released from jail, Tony decided to turn over a new leaf.
▷ clean up your act /ˌkliːn ʌp jɔːr ˈækt/ [verb phrase]
to start behaving better after a situation in which people did not trust you because you were behaving illegally or dishonestly :
▪ She told her son to clean up his act or move out.
▪ Tish has really cleaned up her act - she doesn’t drink or smoke pot any more.
▷ straighten up /ˌstreɪtn ˈʌp/ [intransitive phrasal verb] American
to start to behave well after you had been behaving badly :
▪ You’d better straighten up or you’ll never make it out of high school.
▷ a reformed character /ə rɪˌfɔːʳmd ˈkærə̇ktəʳ/ [singular noun] British
someone who has changed completely and no longer behaves badly or does things they should not do - often used humorously :
▪ ‘Does Alex still drink as much as he used to?’ ‘No, he’s a reformed character now.’
▷ go straight /ˌgəʊ ˈstreɪt/ [verb phrase]
to stop being a criminal and decide to obey the law and live an honest life :
▪ He’s been going straight for about six months now.
▪ You can’t expect these people to go straight when no one’s ever going to give them a job.
5. the way someone behaves
▷ behaviour British /behavior American /bɪˈheɪvjəʳ/ [uncountable noun]
the way someone behaves :
▪ His behaviour in school is beginning to improve.
▪ That kind of behavior is not acceptable.
behaviour towards
▪ Eric’s behaviour towards his family surprised me.
▷ manner /ˈmænəʳ/ [singular noun]
the way someone behaves when they are talking to or dealing with other people :
▪ The driver’s manner was very unfriendly.
▪ She impressed everyone with her businesslike manner.
▷ conduct /ˈkɒndʌktǁˈkɑːn-/ [uncountable noun]
the way someone behaves in public, in their job etc, especially in matters where moral principles are involved - used especially in legal or official contexts :
▪ A middle-aged banker has been fined £200 for violent conduct on a train.
▪ The Medical Committee found the doctor guilty of unethical conduct towards three of his patients.
code of conduct
rules of professional behaviour
▪ A new code of conduct for civil servants will be issued next week.
▷ antics /ˈæntɪks/ [plural noun]
behaviour that some people think is stupid or not responsible but other people think is funny :
▪ The Queen is said to disapprove of the antics of some of the younger members of the Royal Family.
▷ demeanour British /demeanor American /dɪˈmiːnəʳ/ [uncountable noun]
the way someone looks and behaves, that gives you a general idea of their character :
▪ He was a small round man with a cheerful demeanor.
▪ When you mention Polly’s ex-husband, her entire demeanour changes.
6. to behave towards someone in a particular way
▷ treat /triːt/ [transitive verb]
to behave towards someone or deal with someone in a particular way :
treat somebody well/badly
▪ Amy’s treated him really badly - no wonder he’s upset.
treat somebody like somebody/something
▪ I’m sick of my parents treating me like a child.
treat somebody like dirt
treat someone very badly
▪ I don’t know what she sees in him - he treats her like dirt.
treat somebody with respect/contempt/kindness etc
▪ Douglas was treated with much more respect after his promotion.
treat somebody with kid gloves
be very careful how you deal with someone so that they do not become upset, angry etc.
▪ After my nervous breakdown, everyone kept treating me with kid gloves.
▷ behave towards British /toward American /bɪˈheɪv təˌwɔːʳd(z)/ [verb phrase]
to behave in a particular way when you are with someone :
▪ Sometimes he behaves very strangely towards me.
▷ handle /ˈhændl/ [transitive verb] especially British
to treat someone in a particular way in order to avoid problems and to get them to do what you want :
▪ I knew I would have to be very careful how I handled Odette - she was so emotional.
▪ Francis is a natural leader. He’s very good at handling people.
▷ deal with /ˈdiːl wɪð/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to treat someone in a particular way, especially someone who has a problem or someone who has behaved very badly :
▪ There’s only one way to deal with naughty children and that’s to be strict with them.
▪ The police received training in how to deal with families of crime victims.
▪ I try to deal with everyone in an honest, ethical way.
7. the way you treat someone else
▷ treatment /ˈtriːtmənt/ [uncountable noun]
the way that a person, organization etc treats someone :
▪ Harper described the treatment he had received in prison.
treatment of
▪ We’re shocked by the government’s treatment of young homeless people.
special/preferential treatment
when one person is treated better than everyone else
▪ Although I was the boss’s daughter, I didn’t get preferential treatment.
▷ behaviour towards somebody British /behavior toward somebody American /bɪˈheɪvjəʳ təˌwɔːʳd(z) somebody/ [noun phrase]
the way in which one person behaves towards someone else :
▪ Your behaviour towards Lilly was disgusting.
▪ I was confused by her behavior toward me - one minute she was cold and unfriendly, the next she was all smiles.