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
EwaldE-vahlt (German)German, Dutch, Ancient Germanic
Alyshaə-LEE-shəEnglish (Modern)
Sharifa-Arabic
Eukleides-Ancient Greek
Desiderata-Late Roman
Sophronius-Late Greek (Latinized)