Etymology Journal ยท D
Don't ruffle my feathers
Meaning
- Do not irritate or provoke me. It is a warning that the speaker is close to losing their cool.
Warning, tense
Used in a sentence
- I have had a long day, please don't ruffle my feathers.
- He is looking for an argument, but I refuse to let him ruffle my feathers.
- Just finish your homework and don't ruffle my feathers.
The backstory
Likely derived from the way birds fluff up their feathers when they are angry or defensive. It is an old expression used to describe emotional irritation.
Heard in
Nationwide
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