Ruffle Someone's Feathers

What Does "Ruffle Someone's Feathers" Mean?

"Ruffle someone's feathers" is an English idiom. It means "to upset or annoy someone, often by disturbing their peace, challenging their beliefs, or questioning their authority."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "ruffle someone's feathers" used in a sentence:

• The new manager's changes to the office environment ruffled some employees' feathers, leading to resistance and complaints.
• It's important to provide constructive feedback without unnecessarily ruffling your team members' feathers.
• During the debate, his provocative statements were intended to ruffle his opponent's feathers and throw them off balance.

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Ruffle Someone's Feathers" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

A Quick Test

You now know what "ruffle someone's feathers" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see! Show Instructions