puff
puff — adjective
- puffpositive
- puffercomparative
- puffestsuperlative
1. Describes a piece of writing, a review, or an advertisement that praises a produ
Describes a piece of writing, a review, or an advertisement that praises a product, person, or event in a way that exaggerates their qualities for the purpose of promotion.
The newspaper ran a puff piece about the new shopping centre that read like an advertisement.
attributive use: puff piece / puff article
Kim-Ly ignored the puff reviews online and checked the actual product ratings herself.
The magazine was full of puff articles about local restaurants written by their owners.
Omar could tell the interview was a puff segment designed to boost the politician's image.
- promotional
more neutral, describing factual advertising content
- flattering
focuses on the praise itself, not the promotional intent
- uncritical
emphasises the lack of balanced or negative commentary
- critical
offers balanced or negative evaluation, the opposite of a puff piece
文法句型
puff + [noun]
用法筆記
Almost always used before a noun — puff piece, puff article, puff interview. Common in media criticism.
常見錯誤
puff — noun
- puffsingular
- puffsplural
1. A tiny cloud of smoke, steam, gas, or air that is suddenly released, often formi
A tiny cloud of smoke, steam, gas, or air that is suddenly released, often forming a small ball or burst shape.
A puff of steam rose from the kettle the moment Kwame poured the hot water.
a puff of + steam / smoke / air
The old car let out a puff of blue smoke every time it started up.
Clara blew a puff of air onto her glasses and wiped them clean with her sleeve.
A sudden puff of wind scattered the papers across the garden.
Fatima watched a puff of white smoke rise from the chimney into the cold morning sky.
文法句型
a puff of + [noun]
2. A light, hollow piece of pastry made from dough that rises when baked, usually s
A light, hollow piece of pastry made from dough that rises when baked, usually stuffed with a sweet or savoury filling such as cream, jam, or cheese.
The bakery sells cream puffs filled with vanilla custard and topped with chocolate.
common food name: cream puff
Ananya bought a cheese puff from the cafe and ate it on the way to the station.
The children loved the jam puffs that Grandma made every Saturday afternoon.
Diego ordered a chicken puff and a cup of tea for his afternoon snack.
These little pastry puffs with spinach and feta are perfect for a party.
用法筆記
Often used in compound names like cream puff, cheese puff, jam puff. In Taiwan, similar pastries are sold at bakeries and breakfast shops.
3. A piece of writing, a speech, or a review that praises someone or something too
A piece of writing, a speech, or a review that praises someone or something too much, often for advertising or promotional purposes.
The book jacket was full of puff from famous authors who had never actually read it.
countable use: 'a puff' = a piece of puff writing
Newspaper critics dismissed the studio's review of the sci-fi film as mere promotional puff.
The company's annual report was mostly puff with very few real numbers in it.
Amara could tell the article was pure puff designed to sell holiday packages.
- criticism
focused evaluation pointing out faults
用法筆記
Uncountable when referring to the concept ('the article is full of puff'); countable when referring to a specific piece ('a puff from the author').
4. The act or sound of breathing hard and fast, especially after physical exertion.
The act or sound of breathing hard and fast, especially after physical exertion.
Deepak could hear his own puff as he reached the top of the steep hill.
uncountable: 'his own puff' = heavy breathing
After the race, the runners stood with their hands on their knees, catching their puff.
The old dog's puff was loud and ragged after chasing the ball across the park.
Yuto's loud puff echoed in the stairwell as he climbed fifteen floors after the elevator broke.
用法筆記
Common in phrases like 'out of puff' (breathless) and 'catch your puff' (regain normal breathing). More informal and less clinical than 'breath'.
常見錯誤
5. An act of taking smoke from a cigarette, pipe, or cigar into the mouth and then
An act of taking smoke from a cigarette, pipe, or cigar into the mouth and then blowing it out.
Omar took a long puff of his cigarette and watched the smoke drift upward.
collocation: take a puff
Nora tapped her father on the shoulder and asked him not to take another puff near the children.
The actor took a final puff of his cigarette before stubbing it out on the sidewalk.
With each puff of her pipe, a sweet smell filled the small room.
6. A small, soft, round pad used to apply face powder or other cosmetic products to
A small, soft, round pad used to apply face powder or other cosmetic products to the skin.
Mei-Lin dipped the puff into the powder and gently patted it onto her cheeks.
The makeup artist handed Clara a clean puff and asked her to dust the loose powder lightly.
A good powder puff should be washed every few weeks to keep it clean.
Ananya keeps a small puff in her bag for touching up her makeup during the day.
- sponge
can be used for liquid or cream makeup; a puff is specifically for powder
7. A thick, soft bed cover with padding stitched between two sheets of fabric, simi
A thick, soft bed cover with padding stitched between two sheets of fabric, similar in appearance to a quilt or duvet.
Grandma's puff was made of colourful patches of fabric stitched into a beautiful pattern.
Kavita pulled the puff up to her chin and settled into bed for the night.
countable: 'the puff' = a quilted bed cover
The hotel bed had a white cotton puff folded neatly across the bottom of the mattress.
Amara washed the heavy puff in the machine and hung it out to dry in the sun.
用法筆記
This sense is less common in modern usage; 'quilt' or 'duvet' are now more widely used. 'Puff' for a bed cover is a regional, traditional term.
puff — verb
- puffpresent simple I / you / we / they
- puffshe / she / it
- puffedpast simple
- puffing-ing form
1. To take fast, noisy breaths through the mouth, whether after physical effort suc
To take fast, noisy breaths through the mouth, whether after physical effort such as running or climbing, or because of tiredness, age, or low physical fitness.
Thomas was puffing heavily by the time he reached the fifth floor of the building.
pattern: puff + heavily / loudly / hard
The old dog puffed loudly after chasing the ball just a few times across the yard.
Omar was puffing and sweating after just ten minutes of light gardening in the summer sun.
Diego puffed as he carried the heavy box up the stairs to his new apartment on the fourth floor.
The elderly hiker puffed her way up the gentle slope, stopping every few steps to catch her breath.
文法句型
puff + adverb/preposition
puff one's way + direction
用法筆記
Frequently followed by an adverb (heavily, loudly, hard) or a prepositional phrase indicating direction (up, along, through). Covers both short bursts of exertion after exercise and sustained struggling due to low fitness or age.
常見錯誤
2. To smoke a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, especially by regularly taking the smoke i
To smoke a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, especially by regularly taking the smoke into the mouth and blowing it out in small clouds.
The old man sat on the bench puffing his pipe and reading the newspaper.
transitive: puff + [pipe/cigarette]
Yuto stepped outside to puff on a cigarette while his coffee cooled on the desk.
pattern: puff on + [cigarette/pipe]
Deepak puffed thoughtfully on his pipe as he considered the question.
The musician stood backstage, quietly puffing a cigarette before the show began.
Clara could see a woman puffing a cigar on the balcony of the hotel across the street.
- smoke
broader and more neutral; 'puff' emphasises the rhythmic action of drawing and blowing
文法句型
puff + on/at + [cigarette/pipe]
puff + [cigarette/pipe]
用法筆記
The intransitive form ('puff on a pipe') is more common than the transitive ('puff a pipe'), but both are used. Not typically used for vaping.
常見錯誤
3. To blow out smoke, steam, or air in small clouds, often repeatedly, or to cause
To blow out smoke, steam, or air in small clouds, often repeatedly, or to cause something to move by blowing.
The steam train puffed white clouds into the cold winter air as it pulled away.
intransitive: the train puffed = emitted steam
Grandmother puffed smoke rings across the table and watched them drift upward.
transitive: puff + [smoke rings / clouds]
The old chimney puffed black smoke into the sky all through the long winter.
Amara puffed the dust off the old book before opening the cover.
A cold breeze puffed the curtains inward, and the room suddenly felt chilly.
文法句型
puff + [smoke/steam]
puff + adverb/preposition
puff + [object] + [direction]
用法筆記
When the subject is a machine or natural force (train, chimney, wind), the verb describes an emission of smoke, steam, or air. When the subject is a person, the verb describes a deliberate action of blowing.
4. To become larger or rounder, or to make something larger or rounder, because of
To become larger or rounder, or to make something larger or rounder, because of air, liquid, injury, or being filled with something.
Mei-Lin's ankle puffed up badly after she twisted it stepping off the bus.
intransitive: puff up = swell from injury
The bird puffed out its feathers to keep warm in the cold morning air.
transitive: puff out + [body part]
Kavita's face puffed up after the wasp sting, so she took an antihistamine right away.
The chef puffed the pastry by baking it at a very high temperature.
Omar puffed out his chest and took a deep breath before diving into the cold lake.
文法句型
puff up
puff out
puff + [body part] + up/out
用法筆記
Often used with 'up' or 'out' as a phrasal verb. 'Puff up' describes swelling from injury, allergy, or pride; 'puff out' describes deliberately making something larger, like feathers or fabric.
常見錯誤
5. To show too much pride in yourself or your achievements, often by behaving in a
To show too much pride in yourself or your achievements, often by behaving in a way that seems to look down on others.
The salesman puffed up with pride when his boss praised him in front of the whole team.
pattern: puff up with pride
The winner of the competition puffed around the room, telling everyone about his victory.
Ananya's father puffed with satisfaction as he showed off his newly painted fence to the neighbours.
The young artist puffed when critics called her work a masterpiece.
- swell with pride
more neutral or positive; less judgemental
- strut
describes the physical behaviour that accompanies the pride
文法句型
puff up
puff + with pride
用法筆記
Often used in the phrasal form 'puff up' or with the phrase 'puff with pride'. The sense is similar to physical swelling but describes an emotional response — ego becoming visibly larger.
常見錯誤
6. To praise someone or something in an exaggerated or dishonest way, especially in
To praise someone or something in an exaggerated or dishonest way, especially in order to promote them or make them seem better than they really are.
The magazine article puffed the new restaurant as the best in the city, but the food was average.
transitive: puff + [product/person]
Critics accused the newspaper of puffing local politicians to stay in their favour.
The company puffed its latest phone model as a breakthrough, even though it was just a small update.
Sofia thought the review puffed the film too much and decided to watch it before believing the hype.
- hype
stronger and more aggressive; involves marketing buzz
- overpraise
more transparent; less about promotion and more about giving too much praise
- criticise
to point out faults in a balanced way
文法句型
puff + [someone/something]
puff + [someone/something] + up
用法筆記
Often appears in journalism contexts ('puffed by the press'). In publishing, 'puffing' describes exaggerated praise intended to sell books, films, or products. Less common now than the noun form 'puff piece'.