PhrasesHub

ruffled feathers

    Definitions

      • cause upset or annoyance
        To describe the act of causing someone to become upset or annoyed, often by saying or doing something that offends or irritates them

      • disrupt harmony
        To describe a situation where there is tension or discord among a group of people, often as a result of someone's actions or behavior

    Examples of ruffled feathers

    • The CEO's usually calm and collected demeanor was replaced with ruffled feathers during the board meeting when she was faced with criticism from one of the board members.

      This idiom is used when someone's composure or calmness is disturbed, causing them to become agitated or annoyed. In this example, the CEO's "feathers" or emotions, are ruffled by the criticism, leading to an upset or irritated condition.

    • The news of his company's financial losses caused his normally cheerful personality to be replaced with ruffled feathers, leaving his employees disgruntled and unsure of their future with the company.

      This example illustrates how the CEO's emotional instability due to the financial losses affects his employees, causing uncertainty and anxiety.

    • The politician's reputation took a hit when he was caught in a scandal, leading to ruffled feathers from his constituents who were disappointed and angry with his actions.

      In this example, the politician's reputation, or feathers, are ruffled by the scandal, causing disappointment and anger from his constituents.

    • The artist's work was criticized by a renowned art critic, resulting in ruffled feathers and a decrease in sales of his works.

      This example demonstrates how criticism can have a negative impact on an individual's professional life, causing emotions to be ruffled and affecting the individual's reputation and success.

    • The politician's feathers were seriously ruffled when a damaging scandal broke out, forcing her to suspend her re-election campaign.

      This idiom means that the politician became very angry and upset when the scandal occurred, as if her feathers, or symbol of pride and confidence, were disturbed or disordered. It implies that the event caused a significant disturbance or upset in her emotional state.

    • The speaker's feathers were ruffled when the audience interrupted him mid-speech, causing him to stutter and lose his train of thought.

      In this example, the speaker's confidence and composure were disturbed by the interruption, as if his "feathers," or signs of good nature, had been disturbed. This idiom highlights how important it is for individuals to maintain their composure and regain their composure after being disrupted, especially in public speaking situations.

    • The dog's feathers ruffled as it was brushed too harshly, causing it to objectively and loudly.

      In this example, the dog's feathers, literally or figuratively, represent the sensitive and delicate aspects of the animal's body. The harsh brushing disturbed the dog's sense of comfort, as if the "feathers" that represent comfort were now disordered. The dog's vocal response indicates the discomfort it felt as a result.

    • The sailor's feathers were ruffled by the sudden squall that arose during his voyage.

      This example means that the sailor's sense of confidence and calmness was disturbed by the sudden and unexpected storm. The use of "feathers" in this context implies that the sailor's composure and sense of control were disordered or disrupted by the storm, as if the "feathers" that represent his composure were now disturbed. This idiom highlights the vulnerability that sailors face while traveling on the sea.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "ruffled feathers" is used to convey the idea of causing upset or annoyance, as well as disrupting harmony within a group. It can be used to describe someone's actions or behavior that leads to tension and discord among people, or to caution against engaging in activities that may result in upsetting others.

    Origin of "ruffled feathers"

    The origin of the idiom "ruffled feathers" can be traced back to the behavior of birds. When birds feel threatened or agitated, they often ruffle their feathers as a defensive or aggressive display. This behavior is a visual sign of their discomfort or agitation. Over time, the expression "ruffled feathers" has been adopted in human language to describe situations where someone's actions or words cause upset or annoyance, similar to the way birds ruffle their feathers when feeling threatened or agitated. The idiom has since become a common way to describe causing upset or disruption within a group of people.