Puff out fully
Belly out describes something curving or bulging outward, like a sail filling with wind or a curtain pushed by a breeze.
The image is of a rounded swelling, as a belly does.
The spinnaker bellied out as the wind caught it.
Her dress bellied out in the gusty air.
The phrase can also mean to exit boldly or brazenly, belly-first, though this use is less common.
Swell outward with air
IDEA.org / Words / belly out
Puff out fully
Belly out describes something curving or bulging outward, like a sail filling with wind or a curtain pushed by a breeze.
The image is of a rounded swelling, as a belly does.
The spinnaker bellied out as the wind caught it.
Her dress bellied out in the gusty air.
The phrase can also mean to exit boldly or brazenly, belly-first, though this use is less common.
1. expand — billow, Swell outward with air; swell (Increase in size); bulge (Outward curved projection); balloon (Inflatable rubber sac); inflate · distend · protrude · bloat · pouch · spread
shape/fullnessbelly out ≠ cave in Collapse or yield; collapse · deflate · sag · flatten · sink in
tension/tautnessbelly out ≠ droop Hang down limply; luff
belly, out, bellies, bellied, bellying, outs, outed, outing, outer
Word data: Linguabase (CC0) · www.idea.org/words/belly_out