In a Huff Means Visibly Offended
A huff is a fit of annoyance. The word imitates the sound of an indignant breath.
A huff is a fit of annoyance, and to huff is to breathe out heavily. The word is imitative of an indignant exhalation, and the emotional sense follows the sound directly — you can hear a huff, which is what distinguishes it from private irritation. *In a huff* means the annoyance is being displayed. In draughts, to *huff* was once to remove an opponent's piece for failing to take a capture, a rule now largely abandoned.
- A fit of annoyance. *In a huff.*
- To breathe heavily. *Huffing and puffing.*
- Huffy — easily offended. *Huffy.*
- A draughts penalty. *To huff a piece.*
- Imitative. *From the 1500s.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | huff | A huff. |
| Verb | huff | Huffing. |
| Adjective | huffy | Huffy. |
| Past | huffed | Huffed. |
| Related | puff | To puff. |
- He left in a huff.Annoyance.
- Huffing and puffing up the hill.Breathing.
- She got huffy about it.Adjective.
Words made from breath sounds
- Huff — an indignant exhalation
- Puff — a short forceful breath
- Pant — rapid shallow breathing
- Sigh — a long release of breath
- Gasp — a sharp intake
Imitative of the sound of an exhalation, recorded from the 1500s.
What does in a huff mean?
Visibly annoyed. The word comes from the sound of an indignant breath, so a huff is annoyance that shows.
What is huffing in draughts?
An old rule allowing a player to remove an opponent's piece that failed to make a required capture. It is rarely used now.