put on airs

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put on airs (third-person singular simple present puts on airs, present participle putting on airs, simple past and past participle put on airs)

1. (idiomatic) To become haughty, to assume a pretentious manner.

   Synonym: give oneself airs

   • 1921 June, Margery Williams, “The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real”, in Harper’s Bazar, volume LVI, number 6 (2504 overall), New York, N.Y.: International Magazine Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:

     Even Timothy, the jointed wooden lion, who was made by the disabled soldiers, and should have had broader views, put on airs and pretended he was connected with Government.

• lord it over

• Proustian, Trupianos, rainspout, supinator