Idioms

ruffle someone's feathers

This page is about the idiom ruffle someone's feathers

Meaning

If you ruffle someone's feathers, you do something to upset or annoy them.

For example

  • I didn't mean to ruffle Gillian's feathers. I just asked her if she could return the books she'd borrowed.

  • The interviewer ruffled the president's feathers when she asked the same question again after he'd tried to avoid answering it.

Quick Quiz

Sandra ruffled Russel's feathers by saying

a. he was a good listener

b. he was easy to talk to

c. he didn't understand women
a) he was a good listener b) he was easy to talk to c) he didn't understand women

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey