feather

be as light as a feather

to be very light in weight. I could easily pick you up - you're as light as a feather.

See also: light

birds of a feather

people who are similar. The survey reports that people who are 'birds of a feather' make better marriages than those who are opposites.

See also: bird

Birds of a feather flock together.

something that you say which means people who have similar characters or similar interests will often choose to spend time together. I saw the boy who stole my bag with that gang of trouble makers last night - well, birds of a feather flock together, they say.

See also: Bird, together

a feather in someone's cap (old-fashioned)

something very good that someone has done. A new television series will be another feather in his cap.

See also: cap

feather your own nest

to dishonestly use your position at work to get a lot of money for yourself. What angers him most of all is the implication that he has been feathering his own nest.

See also: nest

the feathers fly (American)

if the feathers fly, people fight or argue a lot. The feathers'll fly if he finds out you've borrowed his car.

See also: fly

ruffle someone's feathers

to make someone annoyed. He wasn't asked to speak at the conference, and I know that ruffled his feathers a bit.

See also: ruffle

smooth (someone's) ruffled feathers

to try to make someone feel less angry or upset, especially after an argument. I spent the afternoon smoothing ruffled feathers and trying to convince people to give the talks another chance.

See also: ruffle, smooth

You could have knocked me down/over with a feather! (humorous)

something that you say in order to emphasize how surprised you were when something happened. I only entered for a joke and I won first prize. You could have knocked me down with a feather.

See also: could, down, knock, over

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a feather in your cap

an achievement that you can be proud of. An order for 28 new aircraft is quite a feather in Boeing's cap.

Etymology: based on the custom in some American Indian cultures of wearing a feather to as a symbol of bravery in war

See also: cap

feather your (own) nest

to make a lot of money for yourself. While the CEO feathered his own nest, his company was firing employees by the hundreds.

Usage notes: usually said about someone who takes unfair advantage of others

line your (own) pockets

See also: nest

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 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

See also: ruffle