ruffle someone's feathers
ruffle (one's) feathers
To annoy, irritate, or upset someone. Sarah's just teasing you. Don't let her ruffle your feathers like that! Harry's bombastic, arrogant demeanor tends to ruffle people's feathers, but he's a decent guy at heart.
See also: feather, ruffle
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
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
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
ruffle someone's feathers
cause someone to become annoyed or upset.See also: feather, ruffle
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
ruffle someone's feathers, to
To irritate someone. The transfer of stiffened, upright feathers from angry birds to human beings took place around 1800. “The Dean ruffled his plumage and said, with some asperity . . . ,” wrote Frederic W. Farrar (Julian Home, 1859).
See also: ruffle
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- ruffle
- ruffle (one's) feathers
- ruffle feathers
- ruffle its feathers
- ruffle someone's feathers, to
- hockie
- hocky
- two jumps ahead (of someone or something)
- two jumps ahead of
- two steps ahead (of someone or something)