The idiom ruffle someone’s feathers has been in use for over one hundred years. We will examine the meaning of the idiom ruffle someone’s feathers, where it may have come from, and some examples of its use in sentences. If all it takes are a few follow-up questions during a mid-week press conference – not in the immediate aftermath of a close loss, mind you — to ruffle his feathers, then that thin skin will be exposed repeatedly. ( USA Today) I remember, when I was 17 and eating my heart out over some boy at school, it was my dad who sat me down for a ‘chat’ (my mum had already tried, but telling me “you’re a feminist until it comes to Mr X” hadn’t so much ruffled my feathers as ignited them and my claws were refusing to retract). ( The Irish Examiner)