act the goat
Behave like buffoon
To act the goat is to behave foolishly or clown around, often to get attention or amuse others.
The phrase is more common in British than American English: Stop acting the goat and pay attention.
Sometimes shortened to just goat: He was goating about all afternoon.
- horse aroundPlay boisterously and roughly
- mess aboutAct aimlessly, without purpose
- mess aroundEngage in aimless activity
- clown aroundAct foolishly for laughs
- play aroundAct without serious intent
prank · frolic · buffoonery · tomfoolery · monkey around · horseplay · silliness · mischief · gambol · cut capers · goof around · ham it up · clowning · skylark · daftness · caper · jest · tease