pitch a fit

verb

To become angry, enraged, or upset; to act or react with an outburst, as by shouting, swearing, etc.

“I'd love to stay later, but my mother will pitch a fit if I'm not home by 10.”

Similar
have a fitthrow a fitpitch a tantrum
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Meanings

verbpitch a fit (third-person singular simple present pitches a fit, present participle pitching a fit, simple past and past participle pitched a fit)

present singular third person pitches a fit · participle present pitching a fit · participle past pitched a fit · past pitched a fit

  1. slangTo become angry, enraged, or upset; to act or react with an outburst, as by shouting, swearing, etc.

    I'd love to stay later, but my mother will pitch a fit if I'm not home by 10.

    1 more example

    So if you go to CVS to cash in on the Venus Razor BOGO deal and you discover that other shoppers have beat you to it and the shelves are empty, instead of pitching a fit, you can kindly ask a cashier or store manager to give you a rain check.

    2010, Kathy Spencer, Samantha Rose, How to Shop for Free, Da Capo Lifelong, →ISBN, page 52

    Synonyms: have a fit, throw a fit, pitch a tantrum

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo become angry, enraged, or upset; to act or react with an outburst, as by shouting, swearing, etc.

Similar
have a fitthrow a fitpitch a tantrum
Also see
pitch a tantrumthrow a fit
Cite this entry
APA

pitch a fit. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pitch%20a%20fit

MLA

“pitch a fit.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pitch%20a%20fit. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pitch a fit,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pitch%20a%20fit.

Source: pitch a fit on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.