make the feathers fly Definition

feather
noun

1. Any of the light growths that form the soft covering of a bird.

Thesaurus: plume, quill.
2. Something with a featherlike appearance.
3. Plumage.
4. Condition; spirits.

Example: in fine feather
5. Something of little importance.
6. The feathered end of an arrow.
7. rowing.
The action of feathering an oar.

verb feathered, feathering

1. To provide, cover or line with feathers.
2. To turn (one's oar) parallel to the water to lessen air resistance.

Derivative: featheriness
noun

Derivative: feathering
noun

Derivative: feathery
adj

Resembling a feather in appearance or form
Thesaurus: plumed, fluffy, downy, light, wispy, feather like.

Idiom: a feather in one's cap

Something one can be proud of.

Idiom: feather one's own nest

To accumulate money for oneself, especially dishonestly.

Idiom: birds of a feather

See under bird.

Idiom: in full feather (in high feather)

Greatly elated or in high spirits.

Idiom: make the feathers fly

colloq
To cause a commotion.

Idiom: ruffle someone's feathers

To upset or offend someone.

Idiom: show the white feather

To show signs of cowardice, a white feather in a gamecock's tail being considered as a sign of inferior breeding.

Idiom: You could have knocked me down with a feather

I was astonished.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon.