ruffle
verb /ˈrʌfl/
/ˈrʌfl/
Verb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they ruffle | /ˈrʌfl/ /ˈrʌfl/ |
| he / she / it ruffles | /ˈrʌflz/ /ˈrʌflz/ |
| past simple ruffled | /ˈrʌfld/ /ˈrʌfld/ |
| past participle ruffled | /ˈrʌfld/ /ˈrʌfld/ |
| -ing form ruffling | /ˈrʌflɪŋ/ /ˈrʌflɪŋ/ |
- to alter the smooth surface of something, so that it is not even
- ruffle something She ruffled his hair affectionately.
- A light breeze ruffled the surface of the lake.
- ruffle something up The bird ruffled up its feathers.
- [often passive] ruffle somebody to make somebody annoyed, worried or upset synonym fluster
- Nothing ever seems to ruffle Susan.
- She was obviously ruffled by his question.
- He never gets ruffled, even under pressure.
Word OriginMiddle English (as a verb): of unknown origin. Current noun senses date from the late 17th cent.
Idioms
ruffle somebody’s/a few feathers
- (informal) to annoy or upset somebody or a group of people
- The senator's speech ruffled a few feathers in the business world.
smooth (somebody’s) ruffled feathers
- to make somebody feel less angry or offended