feather ruffling
Getting someone annoyed
Feather ruffling is the act of annoying or disturbing someone, from the image of a bird whose smooth plumage has been disrupted: His comments caused some feather ruffling among the board members.
The phrase suggests minor irritation rather than serious offense—a disturbance of composure that settles back down.
- preeningGrooming with vanity
- bristlingStanding stiffly outward
- raised hacklesErected neck hairs
- agitationDisturbed, restless state
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
annoyance · getting someone's goat · provocation · upset · out of sorts · fluffing · plumage · molt · smoothing · grooming · pecking · bird · nest · hackles · stirring · bird behavior · disgruntled · vexed
- bird behaviorsflying, soaring, perching, nesting, migrating
- dominance displaysdisplay, alpha behavior, power stance, chest puffing, baring teeth
- bird preeningpreening, oiling
feather rufflingsoothing
Reducing distress or discomfort
calming · placating · appeasing · mollifying · pacifying
feather rufflingpeacemaking
Resolving conflicts through negotiation
bridge-building · reconciliation · fence-mending · conflict resolution · ingratiating
feather, ruffling, feathers, feathered, feathering, feathery, ruffle, ruffles, ruffled