huff and puff
idiom
1
: to breathe in a loud and heavy way because of physical effort
He was huffing and puffing when he got to the top of the stairs.
2
: to show one is annoyed or angry
She'll huff and puff for a while, but she'll calm down later.
Examples of huff and puff in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The defeat on Saturday had some of the hallmarks of those performances — all the early huff and puff, with a chronic lack of end product — only with more downsides.
—
Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024
But every step along the way makes the views from the top worth every huff and puff of energy.
—Estes Park Trail-Gazette, The Denver Post, 6 Aug. 2024
Also, some people may huff and puff with more prolonged or more intense bouts of physical activity; others may lose their breath with mild exercise.9
What Can Contribute To Feeling Breathless?
—Rozalynn S. Frazier, Health, 3 Sep. 2023
For the sandwich lovers who might huff and puff at a bagel served with its guts on display, Layla’s got you: a scrambled egg and chermoula bagel is slammed shut and wrapped nice and tight.
—The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 27 June 2023
Walking into a drug store for a simple errand is enough to make Josh Welch huff and puff as if he’s just gone for a run.
—Marin Wolf, Dallas News, 10 Mar. 2023
On the run, big mamma will charge to 60 mph in a very respectable 7.2 seconds and will huff and puff all the way to 121 mph.
—Rich Ceppos, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2023
Don’t act out, don’t huff and puff over the indignity of it all — just be busy that day.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2022
Don’t act out, don’t huff and puff over the indignity of it all – just, be busy that day.
—Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, 18 Nov. 2022
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Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024
But every step along the way makes the views from the top worth every huff and puff of energy.
—Estes Park Trail-Gazette, The Denver Post, 6 Aug. 2024
Also, some people may huff and puff with more prolonged or more intense bouts of physical activity; others may lose their breath with mild exercise.9
What Can Contribute To Feeling Breathless?
—Rozalynn S. Frazier, Health, 3 Sep. 2023
For the sandwich lovers who might huff and puff at a bagel served with its guts on display, Layla’s got you: a scrambled egg and chermoula bagel is slammed shut and wrapped nice and tight.
—The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 27 June 2023
Walking into a drug store for a simple errand is enough to make Josh Welch huff and puff as if he’s just gone for a run.
—Marin Wolf, Dallas News, 10 Mar. 2023
On the run, big mamma will charge to 60 mph in a very respectable 7.2 seconds and will huff and puff all the way to 121 mph.
—Rich Ceppos, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2023
Don’t act out, don’t huff and puff over the indignity of it all — just be busy that day.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2022
Don’t act out, don’t huff and puff over the indignity of it all – just, be busy that day.
—Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, 18 Nov. 2022
Dictionary Entries Near huff and puff
Cite this Entry
“Huff and puff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/huff%20and%20puff. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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