膨らます

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 膨らます, read ふくらます, denotes a transitive verb for increasing volume or broadening imagination and expectation.
• Basic usage: It covers inflating a balloon with breath and expanding imagination to continue a story.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Increasing volume and expanding ideas
  • The physical act of increasing volume extends figuratively to broadening imagination or expectation.