puff

Everyday

1. A short burst of air, smoke, wind or steam. tree →
2. (verb) To breathe quickly and hard, for example after running. tree →
3. (verb) To blow out air or smoke in small bursts. tree →
4. (verb) To swell up or make bigger: «puff out your cheeks». tree →
5. A light pastry or food filled with air: «cream puff». tree →

In the lessons

In stories: «I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down» (The Three Little Pigs); steam trains puff. In PE, children are puffed (out of breath) after running. In health, an inhaler puff for asthma. Phrases: «out of puff», «puff out», «puff up», «a puff of smoke».

Examples

• A puff of smoke came from the chimney. tree →
• I was puffing after running up the hill. tree →
• The wolf huffed and puffed. tree →
• Puff out your cheeks like a fish. tree →
• The bird puffed up its feathers to keep warm. tree →
• She took a puff of her asthma inhaler. tree →
• The magician vanished in a puff of smoke. tree →
• The Frog puffed up still more. tree →

Note

Past: puffed. «Puffed» or «out of puff» (UK, Australia) = out of breath. «Puffy» eyes are swollen.

In Jewish tradition

In the verses it means to be swollen with pride, or to blow at someone with scorn.

Interpretation. Habakkuk says the proud soul is puffed up, but the righteous live by faith. This is a central line in Jewish teaching on trust in God.

Examples

• Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith. (Prophets HAB.2.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• 'For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise', saith the LORD; 'I will set him in safety at whom they puff.' (Writings PSA.12.6, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Past: puffed. «Puffed» or «out of puff» (UK, Australia) = out of breath. «Puffy» eyes are swollen.