feather

*light as a feather and *light as air

Cliché light in weight; [of cakes and pastries] delicate and airy. (*Also: as ~.) Carrying Esther from the car to the house was no problem; she was as light as a feather. What a delicious cake, Tom! And light as air, too.

See also: light

Birds of a feather flock together.

Prov. Similar people tend to associate with each other. I always thought Amy was pretentious, and now she's going out with that snobbish boy, Louis. Birds of a feather flock together. George: Why do you think Donald is dishonest? Ned: All his friends are dishonest. Birds of a feather flock together.

See also: Bird, flock, together

feather in one's cap

Fig. an honor; a reward for something. Getting a new client was really a feather in my cap. John earned a feather in his cap by getting an A in physics.

See also: cap

feather one's (own) nest 

1. Fig. to decorate and furnish one's home in style and comfort. (Alludes to birds lining their nests with feathers to make them warm and comfortable.) With the new family room and expanded kitchen, they seem to have feathered their nest quite comfortably.

2. Fig. to use power and prestige to provide for oneself selfishly. (Said especially of politicians who use their offices to make money for themselves.) The mayor seemed to be helping people, but she was really feathering her own nest. The building contractor used a lot of public money to feather his nest.

See also: nest

Fine feathers make fine birds.

Prov. If you dress elegantly, people will think you are elegant. (Can be used ironically, to suggest that even though someone dresses well, he or she is not a high-class person.) Bill: I don't see why I should have to wear a necktie for a job interview. Jane: Fine feathers make fine birds.

See also: bird, fine, make

fuss and feathers

Rur. fancy addictions that are overdone or troublesome. A truly elegant dress doesn't have a lot of fuss and feathers. They ruined a nice room with all that fuss and feathers.

See also: and, fuss

If it ain't chickens, it's feathers.

Rur. There are always problems.; That is life. Now that I'm finally done with school, I've got to worry about getting a job. If it ain't chickens, it's feathers. He's got plenty of money now, but he's in such bad health he can't enjoy it. If it ain't chickens, it's feathers.

See also: if

in fine feather 

1. Fig. well dressed; of an excellent appearance. (Alludes to a bird that has clean, bright, and flawless feathers.) Well, you are certainly in fine feather today. I like to be in fine feather when I have to give a speech.

2. Fig. in good form; in good spirits. Mary was really in fine feather tonight. Her concert was great! I feel in fine feather and ready to go!

See also: fine

make the fur fly and make the feathers fly

Fig. to cause a fight or an argument; to create an uproar. When your mother gets home and sees what you've done, she'll really make the fur fly. When those two get together, they'll make the feathers fly. They hate each other.

See also: fly, fur, make

ruffle someone's feathers

Fig. to irritate or annoy someone. I didn't mean to ruffle his feathers. I just thought that I would remind him of what he promised us.

See also: ruffle

ruffle its feathers

[for a bird] to point its feathers outward. The bird ruffled its feathers when it was annoyed. My parrot ruffles its feathers whenever it is ready to preen itself.

See also: ruffle

tar and feather someone

to punish or humiliate someone by coating them with tar and feathers. The people of the village tarred and feathered the bank robber and chased him out of town. They threatened to tar and feather me if I ever came back into their town.

See also: and, tar

You could have knocked me over with a feather.

Fig. I was extremely surprised.; I was so surprised that it was as if I was disoriented and could have been knocked over easily. When she told me she was going to get married, you could have knocked me over with a feather. John: Did you hear that they are going to tear down city hall and build a new one—price tag twelve million dollars? Sally: Yes, and when I heard that, you could have knocked me over with a feather.

See also: could, have, knock

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a feather in somebody'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

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 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, flock, together

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 You could have knocked me down with a feather!

See also: nest

ruffle somebody'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 (somebody'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

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 ruffle feathers

See also: fly

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, have, knock

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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.

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

Related vocabulary: line your (own) pockets

See also: nest

ruffle (somebody'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