huff

American  

[huhf] / hʌf /

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

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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 British  

/ hʌf /

noun

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

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verb

1. to make or become angry or resentful

2. (intr) to blow or puff heavily

3. Also: blow.  draughts to remove (an opponent's draught) from the board for failure to make a capture

4. obsolete (tr) to bully

5. empty threats or objections; bluster

huff Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing huff

• in a huff

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Other Word Forms

• huffily adverb
• huffiness noun
• huffish adjective

Etymology

Origin of huff

1575–85; imitative; puff

Example Sentences

Inevitably, amid the weekly huffing and puffing, you share stories and life updates with a trainer, who oftentimes becomes a friend.

From Los Angeles Times

Woo huffs and jumps off the table, quickly returning to the plantains in his bowl.

From Literature

Then his rolling gait retreated into the fog as the great red Bloomer engine huffed into the station, billowing steam.

From Literature

Indeed, she had huffed and puffed her way to the end of the hall at a full trot before Penelope even had a chance to catch her eye and offer a look of sympathy.

From Literature

"They huffed and puffed in the second half. It was improved, but not good enough."

From BBC

Related Words

• heave
• puff