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jumped-up (comparative more jumped-up, superlative most jumped-up)

  1. (idiomatic, derogatory) Thinking 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.
    Synonym: upstart
    • 1895, Punch, or the London Charivari, 24 August, 1895, "'Arry on Harry", [1]
      You jumped-up, cheap, Coventry bagman, / silk-sampling, no doubt, is your biz
    • 1919, J.C. Snaith, chapter XXXIV, in The Undefeated[2], pages 233–234:
      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.
    • 1938, Xavier Herbert, chapter II, in Capricornia[3], page 27:
      [] the faithful service he gave was pearl cast before mean, gutless, brainless, up-jumped swine []
    • 1982, Tom Stoppard, On the Razzle:
      [] 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.
    • 2005, George R. R. Martin, A Feast for Crows:
      "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."
    • 2014, Brian Stavely, The Emperor's Blades[4]:
      The man was an upjumped peasant with delusions of his own importance.

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