puff the magic dragon

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

To smoke marijuana.

Register: humorous, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Sure, he puffed the magic dragon — who didn't? — but no cocaine, no heroin.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “puff the magic dragon” mean?

To smoke marijuana.

Is “puff the magic dragon” formal or informal?

puff the magic dragon is generally humorous, slang.