feel one's oats



feel one's oats

1. Feel frisky or animated, as in School was out, and they were feeling their oats. This usage alludes to the behavior of a horse after having been fed. [Early 1800s]
2. Display self-importance, as in He was feeling his oats, bossing everyone around. [Mid-1800s]
See also: feel, oat

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
BensonBEN-sənEnglish
Aelfric['ælfrik]
Iole-Greek Mythology
Mann[mæn]
Signy-Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Elanor-Literature