puffing smoke

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   Sending out small bursts of smoke, or the act of doing this.

   Grammar: Used after a linking verb or a noun: 'The train was puffing smoke.'

   Patterns

   • be puffing smoke
   • puff smoke into the air
   • puff smoke from something

   The old engine sat at the platform, puffing smoke into the cold air.

   He leaned back in his chair, puffing smoke rings at the ceiling.

   Chimneys along the street were puffing smoke all morning.

2. 2phraseuncountable

   The visible puffs of smoke produced by a person, machine, or fire.

   Grammar: As a noun phrase it usually takes 'of': 'a puffing of smoke'.

   Patterns

   • a puffing of smoke
   • the puffing smoke of something

   From the hill we could see the puffing smoke of the distant factory.

   The puffing smoke above the trees told us where the fire was.

Common combinations

puffing smoke rings

She was puffing smoke rings while she waited for the bus.

puffing smoke into the air

The little boat went past, puffing smoke into the air.

chimneys puffing smoke

In winter you can see the chimneys puffing smoke across the town.

puffing smoke from a pipe

The old man was puffing smoke from a long wooden pipe.

Synonyms and how they differ

smoking

'Smoking' is the general word for producing smoke; 'puffing smoke' suggests short, repeated bursts.

billowing

'Billowing' describes large rolling clouds of smoke, much bigger and slower than puffs.

Word family

puff verb

to blow out air, smoke, or steam in short bursts

puffer noun

a machine or person that puffs, or a type of fish

Commonly confused: puffing smoke or puffing smoke vs smoke?

Practice

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