sNit

Snit is a noun referring to a state of irritation, agitation, or petty pique. In common usage, someone in a snit is briefly irritable or annoyed, often over a minor issue. The term is informal and typically found in conversational speech and writing rather than formal contexts. The expression "in a snit" conveys a mood rather than a sustained condition, and a snit can be described as a minor temper episode.

Etymology and usage history are not definitively established. The word appears in English in the late 19th or early 20th century and is most widely used in North American English, though it is understood elsewhere. Its precise origin is uncertain, and some scholars classify it as slang or dialect that entered broader usage over time.

Usage and nuance: A snit is less severe than a full-blown temper tantrum. It often implies petulance, sarcasm, or overreaction to a trivial matter. Common collocations include "get into a snit" and "throw a snit," though phrasing such as "in a snit" or "put someone in a snit" is also common. Related terms include irritability, pique, or hissy fit, with the latter typically stronger or more childish. In literature and media, snit is used to describe a character’s mood in a light, humorous way rather than a clinical psychological state.