- ruffle someone's feathers
- informal
to make someone feel worried or annoyed
You can imagine how that ruffled Beryl's feathers!
English dictionary. 2014.
ruffle someone's feathers
Look at other dictionaries:
ruffle someone's feathers — To upset or offend someone • • • Main Entry: ↑feather * * * ruffle someone’s feathers informal phrase to make someone feel worried or annoyed You can imagine how that ruffled Beryl’s feathers! Thesaurus: to make someone angry or annoyed … Useful english dictionary
ruffle someone's feathers — ruffle (someone s) feathers to make someone annoyed or upset. Her spokeswoman wouldn t say whether the lawsuit has ruffled the singer s feathers. He tries not to ruffle feathers, and people seem to like to work with him. Usage notes: sometimes… … New idioms dictionary
ruffle feathers — ruffle (someone s) feathers to make someone annoyed or upset. Her spokeswoman wouldn t say whether the lawsuit has ruffled the singer s feathers. He tries not to ruffle feathers, and people seem to like to work with him. Usage notes: sometimes… … New idioms dictionary
ruffle — ruffle1 [ruf′əl] vt. ruffled, ruffling [ME ruffelen < ON or MLowG, as in LowG, ON hrufla, to scratch] 1. to take away the smoothness of; wrinkle; ripple [wind ruffling the water] 2. to gather into ruffles 3. to put ruffles on as trimming 4 … English World dictionary
ruffle — [[t]rʌ̱f(ə)l[/t]] ruffles, ruffling, ruffled 1) VERB If you ruffle someone s hair, you move your hand backwards and forwards through it as a way of showing your affection towards them. [V n] Don t let that get you down, he said ruffling Ben s… … English dictionary
ruffle — ruf|fle1 [ rʌfl ] verb transitive 1. ) to move something so that it is no longer smooth or even: Don t ruffle the tablecloth I just ironed it. a ) to touch someone s hair in a friendly way: She kissed him on the forehead and ruffled his hair. b ) … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
ruffle — I UK [ˈrʌf(ə)l] / US verb [transitive] Word forms ruffle : present tense I/you/we/they ruffle he/she/it ruffles present participle ruffling past tense ruffled past participle ruffled 1) to move something so that it is no longer smooth or even Don … English dictionary
ruffle — 1 verb (T) 1 also ruffle up to make a smooth surface uneven: Birds ruffle up their feathers for warmth. 2 to offend or upset someone slightly: ruffle sb s feelings/pride etc: Louise s sharp comments had ruffled his pride. | get ruffled: Some of… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
ruffle — ruf|fle1 [ˈrʌfəl] v [T] [Date: 1300 1400; Origin: Perhaps copying the action] 1.) also ruffle sth<=>up to make a smooth surface uneven ▪ He ruffled her hair affectionately. ▪ A light wind ruffled the water. 2.) to offend or upset someone… … Dictionary of contemporary English
ruffle feathers — see ↑ruffle, 1 • • • Main Entry: ↑feather ruffle feathers informal : to upset or offend someone His critical remarks ruffled some feathers. = His critical remarks ruffled a few feathers. His critical remarks ruffled the feathers of the board… … Useful english dictionary
