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swell up

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swell up

to enlarge; to inflate; to bulge out. I struck my thumb with a hammer and it swelled up something awful.

See also: swell, up

swell up

v.

1. To become swollen: I put ice on my injured ankle so that it wouldn't swell up.

2. To become filled, as with pride, arrogance, or anger: The new parents swelled up with pride.

3. To rise or surge from an inner source: After I was fired unjustly, rage swelled up within me.

See also: swell, up