ruffle feathers
Provoke someone's annoyance
To ruffle feathers is to irritate or annoy someone, especially by challenging their sense of importance or disturbing their composure.
The image comes from how birds bristle when agitated.
Often appears with negation when advising caution: Don't ruffle any feathers before the vote.
Someone who ruffles a few feathers provokes mild controversy, usually by speaking bluntly or disrupting the status quo.
- irritateCause mild anger
- annoyCause mild irritation
- provokeIncite a response
- offendCause hurt feelings
- step on toesOffend by intruding
rub the wrong way · upset · agitate · get under skin · bristle · nettle · irk · vex · perturb · prickle · fluster · plumage · preening · smooth · hackles · preen · disturb · unsettle
- bird expressionsearly bird, birdbrain, bird brain, lovebirds, jailbird
- Cause a stirmake waves, rock the boat, stir the pot, raise eyebrows, shake things up
- making troublemake waves, stir the pot, raise Cain, kick up a fuss, upset the apple cart
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
- meddlingmeddle, meddler, butt in, horn in, intrude
ruffle featherskeep the peace
Prevent discord or conflict
build bridges · mend fences · bury the hatchet · go along to get along · make peace
ruffle feathersplease
Polite appeal word
accommodate · ingratiate · kowtow · toe the line · play it safe
ruffle, ruffles, ruffled, ruffling, feather, feathers, feathered, feathering, feathery