PhrasesHub

Spitting feathers

    Definitions

      • extreme thirst
        Describing a feeling of extreme thirst, often due to dehydration or a dry mouth

      • extreme anger
        Describing a feeling of extreme anger or frustration, often in a humorous or exaggerated way

    Examples of Spitting feathers

    • John was spitting feathers when he found out that his wife had spent their entire savings on a luxurious vacation without telling him.

      This idiom is used when someone is extremely angry or furious about something. It originated from the image of a bird furiously shaking its head and bill to dispel water droplets, spitting out feathers in the process.

    • The manager was spitting feathers when the team lost all their matches in a row and slipped down to the bottom of the league table.

      This idiom is again a way of describing someone's intense anger or frustration when things go disastrously wrong. It can be used in various situations, both personal and professional, to convey the intensity of one's emotions.

    • The teacher was spitting feathers when she caught the students cheating during the exam.

      This idiom here denotes the strong emotional response of the teacher when she discovered that her students had dishonestly cheated during the exam.

    • Jack spit feathers when he found out that his team had been unfairly eliminated from the tournament.

      This idiom is used here to mean that Jack was extremely angry and furious about something that had gone wrong unjustly. In this case, he was very angry that his team had been unfairly eliminated from the tournament.

    • The teacher was spitting feathers when she found out that her students had skipped class to go to the beach.

      In this example, "spitting feathers" is a figurative expression meaning that the teacher was extremely angry or furious. The phrase "spitting feathers" is taken from the image of a bird spitting out feathers as a sign of intense anger. In this case, the teacher's anger was so strong that it felt like she was "spitting feathers" in frustration and disbelief at the behavior of her students.

    • My boss was spitting feathers when he found out that his assistant had accidentally deleted important files from his computer.

      Here, "spitting feathers" is used to describe the extreme anger and frustration of the boss when he discovered that his files had been deleted. The expression is similar to "seeing red" or "losing your temper", but it is more vivid and colorful. The image of spitting feathers is a powerful and dramatic way to convey the intense emotion being experienced by the boss in this situation.

    • My friend's grandmother was spitting feathers when she found out that her house had been burgled and many precious items had been stolen.

      This example shows how "spitting feathers" can also be used to describe feelings of distress and shock, as well as anger. The grandmother was so upset and distressed by the burglary and theft of her valuable possessions that she felt like she was "spitting feathers" in her frustration and disbelief.

    • The athlete was spitting feathers when he realized that he had missed a crucial shot in the final moments of the game.

      In this final example, "spitting feathers" is used to describe the intense feelings of disappointment and frustration that the athlete experienced when he missed a crucial shot. The phrase is particularly appropriate in this context because it conveys the sense of intense emotion that is often associated with sports and competition. The image of "spitting feathers" helps to evoke the strong emotions and intense focus that are required to excel in demanding physical activities like sports.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "spitting feathers" can be used to express extreme thirst or extreme anger. It is a colorful and vivid way to convey a strong emotion or sensation.

    Origin of "Spitting feathers"

    The origin of the expression "spitting feathers" is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated in British English. The phrase likely comes from the image of a bird or animal that is so thirsty or agitated that it is literally spitting out its feathers. This imagery effectively conveys the intensity of the feeling being described. The idiom is commonly used in informal speech and writing, particularly in British English, to emphasize a strong thirst or anger. For example, "After running for an hour in the hot sun, I was spitting feathers" or "When he found out about the mistake, he was spitting feathers." The idiom adds color and emphasis to the description of a powerful sensation.