swelled head

Related to swelled head: swollen head, stilling

have a swelled head

To be conceited, arrogant, or self-aggrandizing. Cheryl has such a big head on her, all she ever talks about is herself. Janice has had a bit of a big head ever since she got that promotion.
See also: have, head, swell
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*swelled head

Fig. a state of being conceited. (Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) John got a swelled head after he won the prize. Don't get a swelled head from all this success.
See also: head, swell
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • have a big head
  • have a fat head
  • have a swelled head
  • swell
  • swelled head, have a
  • swelled head, to have a
  • big head, have a
  • big-C
  • big C
  • the big C
References in periodicals archive
Whenever Clancy seems on the verge of getting a swelled head from all the attention, his family makes a determined and united effort to deflate his ego in short order.
Red Octorber's Tom Clancy: after the hunt
On "Last Name," Underwood wakes up with a swelled head, a gold ring around her finger, a stranger in her bed and little recollection of the night before.
C&W's `It Girl' lacks a special something
There's no way that I could possibly get a swelled head. My feet are firmly on the ground.
Kiwi-k change for Andy Ward
It would be easy to get a swelled head with all this attention, but not Rohr.
Rohr has fond memories of '67 team
"Mother believed, rather firmly, that children get 'swelled heads' if they had too much praise," he recalled.
Actor Known As Mr. Feeny in 'Boy Meets World' Abused As A Child
While many were scrambling to door-buster sales or waiting in long lines to return that no-you-shouldn't-have ("I really mean it, you shouldn't have") gift, or were nursing swelled heads from too much holiday cheer, gallant men were removing the rubbish, remnants and evidence of the day before.
Talking trash; DPW picks up the day after Christmas
They may not be saddled with committee appointments or student advising, but they are also in no danger of drowning in cash or getting swelled heads from adulation.
Best practices for supporting adjunct faculty
Jim will also be moderating a panel at the upcoming Gourmet Products Show and al the risk of my other editors getting swelled heads, I thought I'd let you know about some of their speaking engagements as well.
From the editor
It seems that in Bollywood, the biggest names are irreplaceable, and they know it, leading to swelled heads, swelled budgets and ultimately, movies that could be better and could have been wrapped up more swiftly had the actors not double-booked themselves.
Hooray for Bollywood. (Book Review)
There is still some opposition to the various journalism fellowships from some editors and publishers -- job-hopping, keeping a slot open, swelled heads -- but much less than during the early years of the Nieman program.
NEIMAN PROGRAM: ONCE UNLOVED, NOW VITAL Harvard's chilly response in 1937 has given way to warm respect for many a journalist