put on airs; be arrogant
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb phrase
to put on airs; to give oneself airs; to act superior
informalA derogatory idiom implying someone is unnecessarily arrogant or pretentious, often in a position of slight authority. The structure is fixed. The object is usually omitted or implied.
Tā他
zhǐ只
shì是
gè个
xiǎo小
zhǔ主
guǎn管
，
què却
zǒng总
ài爱
duì对
xià下
shǔ属
ná拿
jià架
zi子
。
He's just a low-level manager, but he always likes to put on airs with his subordinates.
Bié别
ná拿
jià架
zi子
le了
，
dà大
jiā家
dōu都
shì是
péng朋
you友
。
Stop putting on airs; we're all friends here.
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Nà那
gè个
míng明
xīng星
sī私
xià下
lǐ里
hěn很
suí随
hé和
，
yī一
diǎn点
bù不
ná拿
jià架
zi子
。
That celebrity is very easygoing in private and doesn't act superior at all.
Tā他
gāng刚
dāng当
shang上
lǐng领
dǎo导
jiù就
kāi开
shǐ始
ná拿
jià架
zi子
，
zhēn真
ràng让
rén人
bù不
shū舒
fu服
。
He started putting on airs as soon as he became a leader, which is really annoying.