ruffle someone's feathers



ruffle someone's feathers

Annoy or offend someone, as in Calling him a tightwad really ruffled his feathers. This term alludes to the stiffened, upright feathers of an angry bird. [Mid-1800s]
See also: feather, ruffle

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Fri&Eth;&Thorn;JÓFr-Ancient Scandinavian
Mas'ud-Arabic, Persian
CleoKLEE-oEnglish
Noa (1)-Hebrew, Biblical
Kiyoshikee-yo-sheeJapanese
Myrrine-Ancient Greek