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
Janninejə-NEENEnglish (Rare)
Dechen-Tibetan, Bhutanese
Aleck['ælik]
Callistuskə-LIS-təs (English)Late Roman
Verica-Serbian, Croatian
Tryggve-Swedish