ruffled feathers
bad feelings
TRANSLATION
ruffled feathers = sich verärgert fühlen --- GOOGLE INDEX ruffled feathers: approximately 160,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
RUFFLED FEATHERS over trash depot near airport
(MSNBC.com)
---
The departure of Mr. Wiedeking, 56, marked a turbulent end for the best-paid chief executive in Germany, a hyper-aggressive manager who RUFFLED FEATHERS…
(New York Times)
(MSNBC.com)
---
The departure of Mr. Wiedeking, 56, marked a turbulent end for the best-paid chief executive in Germany, a hyper-aggressive manager who RUFFLED FEATHERS…
(New York Times)
Did you
know?
(to have) ruffled feathers
idiom
- to feel annoyed or irritated
---
DID YOU KNOW?
This expression is based on the idea of a bird whose feathers are not smooth - and therefore ruffled - out of fear or excitement. Many birds intentionally ruffle their feathers as a show of power when they feel threatened. But scientists have discovered a new species that goes well beyond feather ruffling.
The brown-headed cowbird, affectionately known as the "mafia bird," belongs to the group of birds like the cuckoo who lay their eggs in other species' nests, forcing them to raise their chicks. The mafia bird exhibits a unique behaviour however. If the host bird objects to having the eggs in its nest, the mafia bird gets its revenge by destroying the host birds' eggs, pecking holes in them or carrying them out of the nest and dropping them on the ground.
Among humans though, ruffling feathers is usually limited to making someone angry or getting on someone's nerves. If the situation calls for it, someone whose feathers have been ruffled can be calmed down by "smoothing ruffled feathers" or "soothing ruffled feathers."
---
SYNONYMS
agitated, annoyed, chafed, infuriated, irate, irritated, nettled, peeved, piqued, riled, sore, upset, in a tizzy
---
SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"There were some ruffled feathers at the meeting this morning, but harmony was restored by lunchtime."
idiom
- to feel annoyed or irritated
---
DID YOU KNOW?
This expression is based on the idea of a bird whose feathers are not smooth - and therefore ruffled - out of fear or excitement. Many birds intentionally ruffle their feathers as a show of power when they feel threatened. But scientists have discovered a new species that goes well beyond feather ruffling.
The brown-headed cowbird, affectionately known as the "mafia bird," belongs to the group of birds like the cuckoo who lay their eggs in other species' nests, forcing them to raise their chicks. The mafia bird exhibits a unique behaviour however. If the host bird objects to having the eggs in its nest, the mafia bird gets its revenge by destroying the host birds' eggs, pecking holes in them or carrying them out of the nest and dropping them on the ground.
Among humans though, ruffling feathers is usually limited to making someone angry or getting on someone's nerves. If the situation calls for it, someone whose feathers have been ruffled can be calmed down by "smoothing ruffled feathers" or "soothing ruffled feathers."
---
SYNONYMS
agitated, annoyed, chafed, infuriated, irate, irritated, nettled, peeved, piqued, riled, sore, upset, in a tizzy
---
SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"There were some ruffled feathers at the meeting this morning, but harmony was restored by lunchtime."
