feather nest


feather (one's) (own) nest

1. To furnish and beautify one's residence. Now that the apartment is officially mine, I can't wait to feather my nest!2. To enrich oneself by using one's influence or position or with other people's money. I'm sure he feathered his own nest with the money he allegedly raised for charity.See also: feather, nest

feather one's (own) nest

 1. Fig. to decorate and furnish one's home in style and comfort. (Alludes to birds lining their nests with feathers to make them warm and comfortable.) With the new family room and expanded kitchen, they seem to have feathered their nest quite comfortably. 2. Fig. to use power and prestige to provide for oneself selfishly. (Said especially of politicians who use their offices to make money for themselves.) The mayor seemed to be helping people, but she was really feathering her own nest. The building contractor used a lot of public money to feather his nest.See also: feather, nest

feather (one's) nest

To grow wealthy by taking advantage of one's position or by making use of property or funds left in one's trust.See also: feather, nest

feather one's nest, to

To enrich oneself, to provide well for oneself. Alluding to the practice of birds making a soft nest for their eggs and young, this expression originated in the sixteenth century. It appeared in the 1553 play Respublica (1:1) by an unknown author, as well as in several other works of the period. It was a cliché by the eighteenth century.See also: feather