Expression: puffed

[Haihao]

Hi,

Could you please help me with:

[Yankee]

Hi Haihao

1. Yes, I imagine that 'puffed' might be an indication of a 'puffed chest' -- a sort of combination of taking a deep breath and a particular stance that is supposed to look imposing, impressive or proud.

2. Yes, I'd say so.

3. It seems to me that 'bottle shoulders' might simply refer to the shape of his shoulders. An 'annual bend' might be an annual drinking binge (in the form of some sort of annual party perhaps).

4. You can see the awnings in this picture here
And here are some Google images of awnings
Perhaps he used the word 'housed' because the extended awnings seem to form individual little houses/shelters of their own. I don't really know -- just a guess.
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_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Haihao]

Hi Amy,

Thank you so much for the detailed and convincing comments and information resource, which are really helpful and relieving to me.

Haihao

[Mister Micawber]

.
Sounds reasonable to me too. 'Housed' awnings might mean that the awnings have housings-- that is, they have some sort of a permanent supporting framework that they perhaps roll up into when not needed.
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber