huff

Everyday

1. To breathe out loudly and heavily, often because you are tired or annoyed. tree →
2. (noun, informal) A bad mood, usually after being offended: «in a huff». tree →
3. (informal) «Huff and puff»: to breathe hard, or to complain and make a fuss without doing much. tree →

In the lessons

In stories «he left in a huff» tells the reader a character went off sulking. In «The Three Little Pigs» the wolf says «I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down». Phrases: in a huff, go off in a huff, huff and puff.

Examples

• She went off in a huff because she lost the game. tree →
• The wolf huffed and puffed and blew the house down. tree →
• He was huffing and puffing by the top of the hill. tree →
• Don't get in a huff; it was only a joke. tree →
• Grandpa huffed and turned back to his newspaper. tree →
• My little sister is in a huff because she can't stay up late. tree →
• So he huffed, and he puffed, and he blew his house in, and ate up the little pig. tree →

Note

Adjective: huffy (easily offended or sulky). «In a huff» is informal. Similar: sulk, strop (UK).