ENGLISH
REFERENCE

give oneself airs

idiom
Meaning

To act pretentiously, or in a snobbish manner; to swagger.


Examples
SIMPLE

He gives himself airs just because he bought a new car.

CONTEXTUAL

She started giving herself airs after her promotion, acting as if she were better than her old friends.

COMPLEX

Despite his humble beginnings, he began to give himself airs, adopting an affected accent and distancing himself from his former colleagues.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    adorn oneself with borrowed plumes

    To claim the honor of another for oneself.

  2. 02

    apply oneself

    Synonym of strive: to work hard, to complete an activity with good effort and focus.

  3. 03

    be oneself

    To behave or act naturally, without regard to how this behavior is perceived by others.

  4. 04

    bear oneself

    To behave and conduct oneself in a particular manner.

  5. 05

    box oneself into a corner

    To create a predicament or problem for oneself; to do something that leaves one with no good alternatives or solutions.

  6. 06

    buy a dog and bark oneself

    To do something that one has hired someone else to do.

  7. 07

    carry oneself

    To move, especially emphasizing the manner in which one moves.

  8. 08

    come to oneself

    To gain consciousness or self-control.

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