act one's age
Stop being childish
To act one's age is to behave with the maturity expected of someone your years—usually said as a rebuke to adults acting childishly: Act your age, not your shoe size.
The phrase implies that age brings certain behavioral standards, and failing to meet them is embarrassing or inappropriate.
Occasionally used with children who are being babyish for their developmental stage.
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- adulthoodState of being grown
- conformityAdherence to norms
decorum · adolescence · life stages · grow up · aging · emotional regulation · temper tantrum · milestones · societal roles · self-awareness · childishness · propriety · social expectations · immaturity · patience · prudence · respectability · accountability
act one's agehorse around
Play boisterously and roughly
clown around · goof off · act the fool · fool around · regress
act, acts, acted, acting, action, actions, active, actor, actors