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Put On Airs for Dummies

verb

What does Put On Airs really mean?

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Hey there! So, the phrase "put on airs" is a really interesting one. It basically means when someone pretends to be someone or something that they're not. It's like when a person acts all fancy and sophisticated, trying to come across as more important or sophisticated than they actually are. Imagine this, let's say you have a friend who suddenly starts talking in a really posh and refined way, using big words and acting like they know everything about everything. They might be "putting on airs" to make themselves appear smarter or more important, even if they're not really like that on the inside. Does that make sense so far? Let's think about it in a different way to make sure we've got the concept. Imagine you have a clown who loves making people laugh with their silly antics and goofy jokes. But one day, this clown decides to dress up in a fancy tuxedo, wear a top hat, and try to speak in a very formal manner. They might be "putting on airs" because it's not really who they are at their core, but they're pretending to be sophisticated or serious to impress others.

Now, there's another meaning to this phrase as well. It can also refer to someone who is being overly dramatic or exaggerated in their behavior, like they're trying to show off or attract attention. Picture this: you're watching a movie or a play where an actor hams it up on stage, making big dramatic gestures, and using an overly theatrical voice. That actor might be "putting on airs" to grab the audience's attention, even if their performance is a bit exaggerated or doesn't feel real. So, to sum it all up, "putting on airs" means pretending to be someone or something you're not, often to seem more important, sophisticated, or attract attention. It can also refer to exaggerated or dramatic behavior. Remember, it's all about being fake or showy in a way that's not genuine.


Revised and Fact checked by Linda Miller on 2023-10-28 17:41:55

Put On Airs In a sentece

Learn how to use Put On Airs inside a sentece

  • When Timmy pretended to be sick in order to skip school, he was putting on airs to deceive his parents.
  • Janet likes to put on airs by wearing expensive clothes and acting like she is better than everyone else.
  • During the job interview, Mark put on airs by speaking confidently and using big words to impress the interviewer.
  • Sarah's friends noticed that she was putting on airs when she started talking loudly and bragging about her achievements.
  • The politician put on airs by pretending to be interested in the concerns of the people, but his actions showed otherwise.

Put On Airs Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

act superior act superior lord it over lord it over queen it over queen it over

Put On Airs Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

act act move move