ruffle its feathers



ruffle its feathers

[for a bird] to point its feathers outward. The bird ruffled its feathers when it was annoyed. My parrot ruffles its feathers whenever it is ready to preen itself.
See also: feather, ruffle

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Arina-Russian
GranvilleGRAN-vilEnglish
Olavo-Portuguese
Momi-Hawaiian
Mahsa-Persian
SheilaSHEE-ləIrish, English