Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Easily annoyed and bad-tempered; difficult to deal with and often rude or defiant: Describes a person who is in an angry, uncooperative, or confrontational mood, often over minor issues.

Usage

• The adjective "stroppy" is primarily used in informal British and Australian English to describe someone's temporary mood or general temperament. It implies a combative or unhelpful attitude.
• It typically modifies a person (e.g., a stroppy customer, a stroppy teenager). It is less commonly used to describe things or situations.
• The tone is informal and often slightly critical or disapproving.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • Don't get stroppy with me—I'm just telling you the rules.
  • The manager had to deal with a particularly stroppy client this morning.
  • She's been really stroppy ever since she woke up.

Advanced Usage

• "to get stroppy": to become angry and difficult.
  • He tends to get stroppy when he doesn't get his own way.
• "in a stroppy mood": experiencing a period of being bad-tempered.
  • Be careful what you say; she's in a stroppy mood today.

Variants and Related Words

• Strop (noun, informal): A bad mood or fit of sulking or anger. Often used in the phrase "in a strop."
  • He's in a real strop because his team lost.

Synonyms

• Obstreperous: Noisy and difficult to control.
• Cantankerous: Bad-tempered and argumentative.
• Irritable: Easily annoyed.
• Fractious: Irritable and quarrelsome.
• Bolshie (informal, chiefly British): Deliberately uncooperative.

Antonyms

• Cooperative: Willing to help or do what is asked.
• Amiable: Friendly and pleasant.
• Compliant: Inclined to agree with others or obey rules.
• Easygoing: Relaxed and tolerant.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• To throw a strop (idiom, informal): To have a tantrum or become angrily uncooperative.
  • The celebrity threw a strop when her dressing room wasn't ready.

Adjective

1. obstreperous