huff

[ huhf ]

noun

1. a mood of sulking anger; a fit of resentment:

   Just because you disagree, don't walk off in a huff.

   Synonyms: pet, pic, passion, temper

verb (used with object)

1. to give offense to; make angry.
2. to treat with arrogance or contempt; bluster at; hector or bully.
3. Checkers. to remove (a piece) from the board as a penalty for failing to make a compulsory capture.
4. Slang. to inhale the vapors of in order to become intoxicated:

   to huff glue.

verb (used without object)

1. to take offense; speak indignantly.
2. to puff or blow; breathe heavily.
3. to swell with pride or arrogance; swagger or bluster.

huff

/ hʌf /

noun

1. a passing mood of anger or pique (esp in the phrase in a huff )

verb

1. to make or become angry or resentful
2. intr to blow or puff heavily
3. Alsoblow draughts to remove (an opponent's draught) from the board for failure to make a capture
4. obsolete.
   tr to bully
5. huffing and puffing
   empty threats or objections; bluster

Derived Forms

• ˈhuffish, adjective
• ˈhuffiness, noun
• ˈhuffily, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of huff¹

1575–85; imitative; puff

Word History and Origins

Origin of huff¹

C16: of imitative origin; compare puff

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with huff , also see in a huff .

Example Sentences

In the ad, Berlant suggests that the woman on the mountain needn't huff and puff on that ragged path upwards — an act meant to symbolize eating a plant-based diet to save the planet.

From Salon

Onlookers watched silently, angling for a better view like villagers watching a huffing dragon approach their castle walls.

From Los Angeles Times

In another statement after the event, which it called “Our statement on Trump’s ... whatever that was,” the Harris campaign reduced Trump’s long speech into him having “huffed and puffed.”

From Los Angeles Times

We take a walk around The Row to place a to-go order at Pizzeria Bianco while we huff the blotters doused with our potential perfume picks.

From Los Angeles Times

On Monday, he huffed and puffed around the mound throughout the evening.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• heave
• puff