1. Inflate or Swell:
- If you puff up a balloon, you blow air into it, causing it to expand and swell.
- Similarly, if someone puffs up their chest, they arch their back and expand their chest to appear larger or more confident.
2. Become Arrogant or Boastful:
- When someone puffs up their ego, they become overly proud and self-important, bragging about their accomplishments or qualities.
3. Make Something Seem More Significant:
- Puffing up a story involves exaggerating or embellishing details to make it sound more exciting or important than it is.
4. Become Fluffy or Pillowy:
- In the context of cooking or baking, puffing up can refer to the rising of dough or pastry during baking, creating a fluffy texture.
5. Smoking:
- In the context of smoking, puffing up refers to taking a drag or inhaling smoke from a cigarette or other smoking device.
Without more context or information, it's difficult to determine the exact meaning of "puff up" in a specific situation.