jumped-up

comparative more jumped-up · superlative most jumped-up

1. derogatoryidiomaticThinking or acting as if one is superior, as by pretending to be of a higher class or having greater authority than is the case.

   2007, Nov 27. Scott Murray, writing in Guardian Unlimited: "Stuttgart 3-2 Rangers" We're doomed if this wee jumped-up monkey gets Gordon Smith's blessing.

2. Having risen from a lowly station or an inferior position, often with a conceited or arrogant attitude.

   1895, Punch, or the London Charivari, 24 August, 1895, "'Arry on Harry", https://books.google.ca/books?id=S5kwAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22jumped-up+cheap+Coventry%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s You jumped-up, cheap, Coventry bagman, / silk-sampling, no doubt, is your biz

   5 more examples

   Well, you can have all my share of democracy. Between you and me, Gert, it's mainly a name for a lot of jumped-up ignoramuses who have no idea of how little they do know.

   1919, J.C. Snaith, chapter XXXIV, in The Undefeated, pages 233–234

   […] the faithful service he gave was pearl cast before mean, gutless, brainless, up-jumped swine […]

   1938, Xavier Herbert, chapter II, in Capricornia, page 27

   […] I'm damned if I'm going to be harried and put off my stroke by the ridiculous self-importance of a jumped-up pastry-cook.

   1982, Tom Stoppard, On the Razzle

   "My good wife flatters them, to call them knights. They’re upjumped sellswords, with not a thimble of chivalry to be found amongst the four of them."

   2005, George R. R. Martin, A Feast for Crows

   The man was an upjumped peasant with delusions of his own importance.

   2014, Brian Stavely, The Emperor's Blades

   Synonyms: upstart