VOA词汇掌故2023--Have You 'Ruffled Any Feathers' Recently?

Have You 'Ruffled² Any Feathers' Recently?

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning³ English.

Birds bring so many wonderful things to our lives. They have beautiful songs for our ears and beautiful feathers for our eyes.

Birds also add to our English expressions. You may have heard the early bird catches the worm. This saying means the person who arrives first is most likely to get what they want.

And what about birds of a feather flock⁴ together? That means people with the same interests are often together.

Well, today we talk about a bird expression that describes being upset, or bothering someone. When we upset others, we have ruffled their feathers.

For example, if I am often late meeting a friend, that could ruffle¹ her feathers. It could bother her. And if someone lies to me, that will ruffle my feathers.

Besides meaning to bother or upset people, this expression has another meaning. It also means that your action shakes things up. We use it to describe an action that changes the status quo, or the usual way of doing things.

Sometimes, we upset more than just one person. In that case, we can say we ruffled a few feathers. For example, if a new work policy is not popular with workers, it will probably ruffle a few, or more than a few, feathers.

In English, we have quite a few expressions that mean something similar. To drive someone up the wall, to get under someone's skin, and to get on someone's nerves⁵ all mean to bother someone.

However, we do not use those expressions to describe changing the usual way of doing things. So, in that sense, ruffling⁶ some feathers is different.

Word experts say that the use of this expression began in the mid-1800s. It comes from the fact that, sometimes, birds ruffle their feathers when they are upset. But birds also ruffle their feathers at other times, for example to keep warm or during mating season.

Now, let's hear two friends use the expression.

A: The meeting for our Ukulele Club is going to start in 20 minutes.

B: I brought drinks and some food.

A: And I brought copies of our new rules!

B: Um ... I don't think you should hand those out.

A: Why?

B: Well, some members are NOT going to like them.

A: What do you mean?

B: I mean -- these new rules are going to ruffle some feathers.

A: No way! Whose feathers are going to be ruffled?

B: Well, Marjorie, for one. Your first new rule is no dogs are permitted during practice. She doesn't go anywhere without her little dog BinkyBoo.

A: Well, maybe we can change that one.

B: And the dress requirement? Do you really think people want to dress in costume for performances?

A: It'll make it more fun for the audience.

B: Actually, every one of the new rules is going to ruffle someone's feathers.

A: Okay, I get it. I'll throw them away. The last thing I want to be accused of is being a feather-ruffler.

And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.

Words in This Story

flock - v. to gather or move in a large group : – n. a group of animals (such as birds or sheep) assembled⁷ or herded⁸ together

status quo – n. the existing state of affairs

costume – n. special or fancy⁹ dress (as for wear on the stage or at a masquerade party)

audience – n. a group that listens or watches (as at a play or concert)

1 ruffle   

v.弄皱，弄乱；激怒，扰乱；n.褶裥饰边

参考例句：

• Don't ruffle my hair.I've just combed it.别把我的头发弄乱了。我刚刚梳好了的。
• You shouldn't ruffle so easily.你不该那么容易发脾气。

2 ruffled   

adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She ruffled his hair affectionately. 她情意绵绵地拨弄着他的头发。
• All this talk of a strike has clearly ruffled the management's feathers. 所有这些关于罢工的闲言碎语显然让管理层很不高兴。

3 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

4 flock   

n.羊群，一群，大量；vi.群集，聚集，成群

参考例句：

• A flock of customers were waiting for the store to open.一群顾客在等候着商店开门。
• A few sheep have been lost from the flock.羊群里少了几只羊。

5 nerves   

n.神经紧张 vt.鼓起勇气

参考例句：

• What he said at the meeting strung her nerves up. 他在会议上的发言使她的神经很紧张。
• At the end of a day's teaching, her nerves were absolutely shattered. 教了一天课，她精疲力竭。

6 ruffling   

弄皱( ruffle的现在分词 )； 弄乱； 激怒； 扰乱

参考例句：

• A cool breeze brushed his face, ruffling his hair. 一阵凉风迎面拂来，吹乱了他的头发。
• "Indeed, they do not,'said Pitty, ruffling. "说真的，那倒不一定。" 皮蒂皱皱眉头，表示异议。

7 assembled   

安装的, 组给的

参考例句：

• He bought the parts separately and assembled his own computer.他一一买来部件，组装成自己的电脑。

8 herded   

群集，纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 )； 放牧； （使）向…移动

参考例句：

• He herded up his goats. 他把山羊赶拢在一起。
• They herded into the corner. 他们往角落里聚集。

9 fancy   

n.想像力，幻想；喜好，爱；adj.想像的，时髦的，华丽装饰的，奢侈的；技巧的；vt.想象，自认为，喜好

参考例句：

• He seemed to have taken quite a fancy to her.他似乎相当喜欢她。
• I have a fancy that it's going to rain.我想大概要下雨。