Meaning & use
ruffled feather
Last updated
Meanings
phraseidiom
Used in the phrase 'smooth ruffled feathers', meaning to calm someone who is angry or upset.
Grammar: Fixed phrase; usually in the plural 'ruffled feathers' after verbs like 'smooth' or 'settle'.
Patterns
- smooth ruffled feathers
- settle ruffled feathers
The manager tried to smooth ruffled feathers after the sudden schedule change.
A sincere apology can help settle ruffled feathers.
She brought cookies to the meeting to smooth any ruffled feathers.
phrasecountable
Literally, a feather that has been disturbed or disordered, especially on a bird.
Grammar: Countable; usually plural when referring to a bird's plumage.
Patterns
- a ruffled feather
- ruffled feathers
The bird preened its ruffled feathers after the windstorm.
You could see a single ruffled feather on the pigeon's wing.
Word forms
| plural | ruffled feathers |
|---|
Common combinations
- smooth ruffled feathers
- He used humor to smooth ruffled feathers during the argument.
- ruffled feathers over something
- There were ruffled feathers over the new policy.
- cause ruffled feathers
- Her blunt comment caused some ruffled feathers.
Synonyms and how they differ
- upset feelings
- A more general phrase; 'ruffled feathers' is idiomatic and often used in professional contexts.
- bad blood
- Refers to lasting resentment, while 'ruffled feathers' are temporary and can be smoothed.
Opposites
Practice
What does it mean to 'smooth ruffled feathers'?
Choose one answer.
The idiom 'smooth ruffled feathers' means to soothe someone's anger or hurt feelings. Option 0 is the literal meaning, not the idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ruffled feather”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.