swelled head

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "swelled head" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to someone who has become overly self-important, or as a reaction to someone who is overly proud or boastful. For example, "John has a real swelled head after winning the race."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

The idiom is "swelled head".

The New York Times

Get a swelled head?

The New York Times - Sports

But he laughed off the risk of a swelled head.

The New York Times - Arts

But you will enjoy a pleasurably swelled head from the longing looks that come your way.

The New York Times

To shed its shell for a new one, a crab needs a swelled head.

The New York Times - Science

Australian newspapers did pay attention: they picked on her for having a swelled head.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

But keeping us from getting swelled heads often meant bruising our egos".

The New York Times

Loomis had a time bomb on its hands; now added to Burns's brilliance, immaturity and irreverence was a mounting irritation with the place and with himself for returning there, all aggravated by his newly swollen head.

The New York Times - Magazine

It seemed to be covered in brilliant white laundry but as it trundled past me I saw a grossly swollen head sticking out of the bed sheets.

BBC

"Presidents get swollen heads," Mr. Sadat said.

The New York Times

Bratz dolls have swollen heads, pouty lips, spindly limbs, and chunky-heeled shoes.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "swelled head" to describe someone who has become arrogant or conceited, particularly after a success or achievement. It often carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting that the person's ego has grown too large.

Common error

Avoid using "swelled head" to describe a literal physical condition. While the phrase uses the image of a physically enlarged head, it exclusively refers to an inflated ego or arrogance. Use specific medical terms when discussing actual head swelling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "swelled head" functions as an idiomatic noun phrase, often used attributively to describe a person's state of arrogance or conceit. Ludwig provides examples of its use in describing someone who has become overly proud, as highlighted by Ludwig's AI response.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "swelled head" is a common idiomatic phrase used to describe someone who has become arrogant or conceited, typically after a success. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's often used with a negative connotation. The phrase is grammatically correct and most frequently found in news and media contexts. While alternative phrases like "big-headed" and "full of oneself" exist, it's crucial to avoid using "swelled head" to describe a physical condition. This idiom's longevity and frequent appearance in reputable sources solidifies its place in common English usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

big-headed

A more literal synonym for "swelled head", directly referring to an inflated ego.

full of oneself

Describes someone completely absorbed in their own importance.

have an inflated ego

Indicates that someone has a very high opinion of themselves which isn't justified.

stuck-up

Implies a sense of social superiority, acting as if one is better than others.

thinking too highly of oneself

A descriptive phrase indicating an exaggerated sense of self-worth.

conceited

Adjective indicating an excessively high opinion of oneself, lacking the idiomatic nuance of "swelled head".

arrogant

Similar to conceited, but emphasizes a sense of unwarranted superiority and disdain for others.

cocky

Suggests an overconfident and boastful attitude, often in a provocative way.

on an ego trip

Suggests that someone is behaving in a way that is solely to gratify their ego.

pompous

Characterized by excessive self-importance and the use of grand, formal language.

FAQs

How can I use "swelled head" in a sentence?

You can use "swelled head" to describe someone who has become arrogant or conceited, for example: "After winning the award, he got a real "swelled head"."

What's a similar idiom to "swelled head"?

A similar idiom is "big-headed", which also describes someone with an inflated ego.

Is it correct to say someone "has swelled head"?

Yes, it's correct. You can say someone "has a "swelled head"" or "got a "swelled head"" to indicate they've become arrogant.

What does it mean when someone is described as "full of oneself" and how does that relate to having a "swelled head"?

Being "full of oneself" is very similar to having a "swelled head"; both describe someone who is overly self-important and has an inflated sense of their own significance.