| 词汇 | ruffle someone's feathers |
| 释义 | Idiom ruffle someone's feathers Theme: ANNOYANCE to upset or annoy someone. (A bird's feathers become ruffled if it is angry or afraid.)You certainly ruffled Mrs. Smith's feathers by criticizing her garden.Try to be tactful and not ruffle people's feathers. Idiom ruffle someone's feathersruffle (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 used in the form smooth ruffled feathers - to make someone feel less annoyed or upset: The candidate went out of her way to smooth ruffled feathers. Etymology: based on the idea of a bird whose feathers are not smooth because of fear or excitement ruffle (one's) feathersTo 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. ruffle someone's feathersAnnoy 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] ruffle someone's featherscause someone to become annoyed or upset.ruffle someone's feathers, toTo 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). |
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