puff up
puff up
To swell or expand in size or to cause something to expand or swell. My hand puffed up after the bee stung me. Some male birds puff up their colorful plumage to try to attract a mate.
See also: puff, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
puff someone or something up
to boost or promote someone or something. Judy puffed Nell up so much that Nell could not begin to live up to her reputation. Don't puff up your own accomplishments so much.
See also: puff, up
puff up (into something)
to assume a larger shape by filling up with air or water; to swell up into something. The strange-looking fish puffed up into a round ball. The fish puffed up and stuck out its spines.
See also: puff, up
puff up
to swell up. Her finger puffed up and she thought she might have an infection. His eyelids had puffed up during the night.
See also: puff, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- puff out
- expand (up)on (something)
- expand on
- swelling
- mushroom into
- mushroom into (something)
- increase
- increase (something) by (something)
- increase by
- plant a seed