jumped-up

American

[juhmpt-uhp] / ˈdʒʌmptˈʌp /

adjective

Chiefly British.

having recently gained prominence or fame and appearing arrogant.

jumped-up British

adjective

informal suddenly risen in significance, esp when appearing arrogant

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of jumped-up

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Although the term is clinically obsolete, examples of male peacocking are as close as the nearest bejeweled Patek Philippe, sterling-silver rodeo belt buckle or jumped-up, gold-plated pickup.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

Regular soldiers looked down on General Hamdan and his paramilitaries as a motley crew — “a bunch of jumped-up yahoos from the sticks, not proper military men,” as one Western ambassador put it.

From New York Times • Apr. 19, 2023

The people of England have no idea what to make of any of this, since the Tudors are at this point a jumped-up house.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2017

Ray said: "Some people say he's a jumped-up upstart, but I say: take him as you find him."

From The Guardian • Jun. 8, 2014

The guys animate their answers with fist pumping and jumped-up bro hugs and take-thats and all manner of behaviors that make it seem like we’re participating in football practice and not a dry Quiz Bowl.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023