jumped-up

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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 implication of conceit or arrogance.

   Synonym: upstart

   • 1895, Punch, or the London Charivari, 24 August, 1895, "'Arry on Harry",

     You jumped-up, cheap, Coventry bagman, / silk-sampling, no doubt, is your biz

   • 1919, J.C. Snaith, The Undefeated, chapter XXXIV, pp. 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, Capricornia, chapter II, p. 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,

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

• upjumped (rare)

• up-jumped, upjumped