feather one's nest
Enrich oneself sneakily
To feather one's nest is to enrich oneself, usually by taking advantage of a position of trust or authority.
The image is of a bird lining its nest with soft materials for comfort.
The phrase typically carries a note of disapproval, suggesting self-dealing or corruption: The contractor feathered his nest with kickbacks from suppliers.
Politicians feathering their nests while in office.
- avariceExcessive desire for riches
- profitGain exceeding expenditure
- accumulationCollected mass over time
- ill-gotten gainsWealth obtained dishonestly
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
old boys' club · covetousness · acquisitiveness · corruption · hoarding · gravy train · golden parachute · opportunism · manipulation · self-interest · looking out for number one · scheming · bribery · under the table · kickbacks · embezzlement · advantage · cash cow
feather one's nestself-sacrifice
Surrendering for others' benefit
altruism · give back · volunteer · philanthropy · martyrdom
feather one's nestleave money on the table
feather, feathers, feathered, feathering, feathery, nest, nests, nested, nesting