puff up

To raise fur or feathers so that an animal looks bigger or stays warm.

• The bird puffed up its feathers.
• Our cat puffed up when it saw the dog.
• Sparrows puff themselves up to stay warm.

How to use it: puff up something (The cat puffed up its fur.); puff oneself up (The little bird puffed itself up against the cold.)

Similar words: fluff up, bristle

Common phrases: puff up feathers, puff up fur, puff itself up

To make something larger or fuller by putting air into it.

• He puffed up his cheeks.
• We puffed up the balloons for the party.
• Can you puff your cheeks up like this?

How to use it: puff something up (She puffed her cheeks up and held her breath.)

Similar words: inflate, blow up

Opposites: deflate

Common phrases: puff up balloons, puff up cheeks, puff something up

To become larger and swollen because of an injury or illness.

• My ankle puffed up after the fall.
• Her eyes had puffed up because of an allergy.
• Did your hand puff up after the bee sting?

Similar words: swell, swell up

Common phrases: puff up suddenly, puff up badly

To become very proud of yourself, often more than is reasonable.

• The praise puffed him up.
• She was puffed up with pride after her promotion.
• Success can puff people up and make them forget their friends.

How to use it: be puffed up with something (He was puffed up with pride after winning the award.); puff someone up (All that praise puffed him up.)

Similar words: swell with pride, get conceited

Common phrases: puff someone up, puff yourself up

To invent false claims or make them seem more serious than they really are.

• They puffed up false charges against him.
• The report puffed up minor complaints into serious accusations.
• His enemies puffed up a case using invented evidence.

How to use it: puff up something against someone (They puffed up charges against an innocent man.)

Similar words: trump up, fabricate

Common phrases: puff up charges, puff up accusations, puff something up