to puff up
4
4.9
- phrasal verb
- /pʌf ʌp/
:
inflarse
- Sure, he's all puffed up over himself.
- puffed up with pride
- puffed up his chest
Examples
-
You could tell the way he'd just strut around, all arms and elbows, you know, all puffed up and cocksure.
-
"Look at me, I'm all puffed up."
-
You know, you look a little puffed up.
-
But it was all puffed up?
Fiction book (1993) -
And they seemed rather puffed up.
Fiction book (2001) -
The Colonel heads toward the living room, a little puffed up.
Fiction book (1999) -
After my reveal, this woman puffed up like she was queen of something.
Blog text (30) -
Paul describes being puffed up with pride as falling into the same condemnation as the devil.
Blog text (15) -
"Nothing's too good for my friends," he said, all puffed up, not knowing Chick was joking.
Fiction book (1990) -
After receiving the award, she puffed up with pride and smiled at everyone around her.
Synonyms
29
4.2
To feel a strong emotion, like pride or anger, growing inside
5
3.5
To make something larger by filling with air or pride
4
7.0
To act or speak in a proud, boastful way
4
8.4
Act as if you are better than other people
1
8.1
To act as if you are better than other people
1
9.6
To become too angry or upset about small things
To react angrily and show offended pride when criticized
Antonyms
How Proud
4
4.9
45
3.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to make or become swollen/expanded' follows directly from combining 'puff' (to swell or bulge) with the particle 'up' (indicating increase or raising). This compositional verb + particle pattern is common and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reliably infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Puff up comes from the image of a bird or person making themselves look larger by pushing out the chest or feathers, literally puffing up. That's why it can mean to become full of 'pride' or anger and to show it.