# put on airs

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/put-on-airs
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To become haughty, to assume a pretentious manner.

## Examples

- He puts on airs whenever he talks to his new rich friends.
- She started putting on airs after her promotion, acting as if she were better than her old colleagues.
- Despite his humble beginnings, he began to put on airs, adopting an affected accent and distancing himself from the community that raised him.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.