auf|blähen
Translation
to inflate, to bloat, to puff up, to exaggerate
Examples
Der Wind blähte die Segel auf.
The wind inflated the sails.
Manche Lebensmittel blähen den Bauch auf.
Some foods bloat the stomach.
Er neigt dazu, seine Erfolge aufzublähen.
He tends to inflate his achievements.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to inflate sth. The wind inflated the sails.
sich aufblähen to bloat My stomach feels bloated.
Similar Words
aufpumpen (to pump up), anschwellen (to swell up)
Etymology
From 'auf-' (up) and 'blähen' (to blow, swell). It literally means 'to blow up'.
Memory Tips
Think of a balloon being blown 'auf' (up). This can apply to physical things like a stomach or figurative things like an ego or statistics.