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Glite Dictionary
to blimp out

to blimp out

1 9.2
To become much larger, often by filling with air
  • phrasal verb
  • /blɪmp aʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : inflarse
  • The balloon began to blimp out as it filled with air, taking on a larger shape.

Examples

  • Niki: Yeah, he won't like it if you start to blimp out.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • After eating too much at the party, I started to blimp out noticeably.

  • If you keep skipping workouts, you might blimp out before summer.

Synonyms

to swell
vsto blimp out
117 3.2

To become larger often by pressure or by soaking in water

is more informal and often implies quicker, dramatic inflation
to enlarge
vsto blimp out
70 3.0

To make something bigger in size or amount

is a slangy, informal term that stresses fast, large swelling
to stick out
vsto blimp out
61 3.2

To extend beyond a surface or edge

is focused on rapid, large growth rather than mere projection
to zoom
vsto blimp out
54 3.7

To rise very quickly in amount or value

is informal and often used about physical swelling, not only numbers
to inflate
vsto blimp out
44 2.9

To fill something with air so it becomes larger and round

is used informally to mean sudden enlargement by filling with air
to balloon
vsto blimp out
21 4.7

To increase quickly in size or amount

is an informal, playful way to describe the same rapid expansion
to pop out
vsto blimp out
21 3.1

To come out quickly from a surface or container

is more about sudden, dramatic swelling than mere outward projection
to bloat
vsto blimp out
19 4.9

To become swollen because of gas or fluid

is informal and playful rather than medical or clinical
to poke out
vsto blimp out
16 3.5

To stick out from something like a wall or table

is about becoming larger by swift inflation rather than simple projection
to bulge
vsto blimp out
7 2.9

To swell so that part of something sticks out

is an informal, stronger word implying quick, large expansion not just protrusion
to puff out
vsto blimp out
5 3.5

To make something larger by filling with air or pride

is informal and emphasizes sudden large swelling rather than slight protrusion
to bulge out
vsto blimp out
3 3.7

To stick out in a round shape, like a pocket or balloon

is more informal and stresses overall rapid enlargement rather than mere protrusion
to puff up
vsto blimp out
2 4.4

To make something larger or more full, for example by filling it with air

is more informal and suggests sudden dramatic enlargement
to rocket up
vsto blimp out
2 4.4

Increase very quickly to a much higher level

is an informal physical phrase rather than a numeric rise term
to embiggen
vsto blimp out
  • Slang
1 9.9

To make something bigger, often in a joking way

is about sudden inflation and marked swelling rather than playful growth
ballooning
vsto blimp out
4.1

Growing very quickly in size or cost

is more informal and stresses dramatic sudden growth
to protuberate
vsto blimp out
9.9

To stick out from a surface like a bump

is informal and more dramatic than this formal, technical word

Antonyms

to shrink
181 2.8

Become less in amount or value

to deflate
18 3.1

To let air out of something so it becomes smaller or loses its shape

How Much

to balloon
21 4.7
to blimp out
  • Informal
1 9.2
to inflate
44 2.9
to swell
117 3.2
to bulge
7 2.9

Surface Forms

blimp out infinitive
blimped out past
blimped out past participle
blimping out present participle
blimps out third person singular

Morphology

blimp + out

The sense ‘to swell or become larger’ can be inferred from ‘blimp’ (an inflated airship) combined with the particle ‘out’ suggesting outward expansion, so a learner who knows both words could plausibly guess a meaning related to inflation or bulging. However, this is a creative, informal verbing of a noun and a slangy particle construction, so the exact sense and usage are not fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

Blimp out may come from the image of a blimp, a large air-filled balloon, puffing out as it fills with air and grows fast. So, it came to mean 'to get much bigger'.