apuff

comparative more apuff · superlative most apuff

1. Out of breath; puffing.

   Next to arrive was Aunt Helena, all apuff from limping over from the library.

   2019, Margaret Atwood, The Testaments, →ISBN, page 345

   2 more examples

   “No,” said Smoke. “Just a one-sided argument. What's the news, Alex? You're all apuff.”

   2009, L. Ron Hubbard, Man-Killers of the Air

   Aunt Mary Braley stood at the bedside, all apuff from the long climb up the stairs.

   2014, Jessie Haas, Westminster West

2. worked up; visibly agitated.

   Inside the room, specially vacated of all who normally slept there, Jemubhai, his face apuff with anger, grabbed at his wife.

   2008, Kiran Desai, The Inheritance of Loss

   3 more examples

   Rookie policemen, apuff with zeal and a conviction anybody they arrested should get the book as an incorrigible miscreant, sometimes yiped loud and long about the judge's leniency.

   1966, United States. Congress, Congressional Record

   “Sorry, Jon, I didn't mean to interrupt your private party, but we've been invited to stay at the palace, and the majordomo is all apuff waiting to show us our rooms.

   2012, Alfred Tella, Zuralia Dreaming

   Argue about revolutionary ideas, advocate eloquently for some change in policy, work through the paralyzed political system, and probably get their periwigs all apuff with frustration.

   2017, Joe Quirk, Seasteading

comparative more apuff · superlative most apuff

1. While apuff.

   She asked Charles to sign our names and address in the curly-backed notebook as Eth limped up the stairs apuff with all the luggage.

   1937, Edward Livermore Burlingame, Robert Bridges, Alfred Dashiell, Scribner's Magazine - Volume 101, page 52