Ruffle
verb
To make (something) lose its smooth appearance or shape.
She ruffled her dress before the party.
Often appears as...
- ruffle someone's hair
- ruffle feathers
verb
To disturb, upset, or annoy someone.
Don't ruffle his temper; he's had a long day.
Often appears as...
- ruffle someone's feelings
- ruffle someone's temper
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A fold or curl in a material, or anything resembling this.
She wore a dress with big ruffles at the bottom.
Often appears as...
- ruffle on a dress
- ruffle on a shirt
verb
In birds, to puff out (feathers).
The bird ruffled its feathers as a sign of aggression.
Often appears as...
- ruffle feathers
- ruffle plumage
verb
To make (something) lose its smooth appearance or shape.
She ruffled her dress before the party.
Often appears as...
- ruffle someone's hair
- ruffle feathers
verb
To disturb, upset, or annoy someone.
Don't ruffle his temper; he's had a long day.
Often appears as...
- ruffle someone's feelings
- ruffle someone's temper
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A fold or curl in a material, or anything resembling this.
She wore a dress with big ruffles at the bottom.
Often appears as...
- ruffle on a dress
- ruffle on a shirt
verb
In birds, to puff out (feathers).
The bird ruffled its feathers as a sign of aggression.
Often appears as...
- ruffle feathers
- ruffle plumage
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Visual disruption
Used to describe when an object's smooth line or surface becomes uneven or messy.
The wind ruffled the tablecloth, creating waves in the fabric.
Pro Tip 2/2Intentional action
Implies purposefully creating a disordered look for style or effect.
She ruffled the pages of her notebook to suggest it was frequently used.
Pro Tip 1/2Visual disruption
Used to describe when an object's smooth line or surface becomes uneven or messy.
The wind ruffled the tablecloth, creating waves in the fabric.
Pro Tip 2/2Intentional action
Implies purposefully creating a disordered look for style or effect.
She ruffled the pages of her notebook to suggest it was frequently used.
Pro Tip 1/2Visual disruption
Used to describe when an object's smooth line or surface becomes uneven or messy.
The wind ruffled the tablecloth, creating waves in the fabric.
Pro Tip 2/2Intentional action
Implies purposefully creating a disordered look for style or effect.
She ruffled the pages of her notebook to suggest it was frequently used.
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Video examples
Safari Live - Day 276 PIPE...
black chested youngster it's so tricky in it this in this particular part of the world it was so the short ideal also looks quite similar so I don't know I mean could it be I was hoping it was gonna fly off it ruffled its feathers a little bit just now I was hoping that I was gonna see it actually take off and
Video examples
Paola Antonelli: Why I...
because they are quite thoroughly something code." Oh, so Picasso is not art because it's oil paint. Right? So it's so fantastic to see how these feathers that were ruffled, and these reactions, were so vehement. And you know what?
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 226 PIPE...
we call the social hours which are always normally early in the morning and late in the evening so seeing two of them which were two Cubs that belong to ruffles running and kissing each other it was quite epic so we just sting here
Video examples
Why sleep matters now...
enough that that that in itself yes sleep I think we're learning performs a form of emotional first aid as it were and it reminds me actually of another lovely phrase by charlotte brontë who said that a ruffled mind
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
i mean i thought i knew about the display of ostrich and it's very dramatic i mean the male comes and and opens his wings and then sways his head from side to side and ruffles and it's very dramatic stuff
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 320 PIPE...
find the sausage tree pride in this area so I do need to move off anyway so we see looks like a juvenile or not it's actually sure which species this one is those ruffled feathers very cold
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 265 PIPE...
gas that have you know followed them for a very long time and they have been naming this highness or they have a nomenclature from something of food ruffles mace soup
Video examples
These Animals Will Be...
Except I'm not a hot guy my old needle which is something you know if you watched our life I don't want to ruffle your feathers They'll be a success
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 214 PIPE...
ever have the absolute definition of feathers ruffled right up there with a pecking order sorry my boy I don't think it's a nest I
Video examples
Quelea Mega-Flock Hunted...
the survivors may have had their feathers ruffled but they've learned an important lesson
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 276 PIPE...
black chested youngster it's so tricky in it this in this particular part of the world it was so the short ideal also looks quite similar so I don't know I mean could it be I was hoping it was gonna fly off it ruffled its feathers a little bit just now I was hoping that I was gonna see it actually take off and
Video examples
Paola Antonelli: Why I...
because they are quite thoroughly something code." Oh, so Picasso is not art because it's oil paint. Right? So it's so fantastic to see how these feathers that were ruffled, and these reactions, were so vehement. And you know what?
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 226 PIPE...
we call the social hours which are always normally early in the morning and late in the evening so seeing two of them which were two Cubs that belong to ruffles running and kissing each other it was quite epic so we just sting here
Video examples
Why sleep matters now...
enough that that that in itself yes sleep I think we're learning performs a form of emotional first aid as it were and it reminds me actually of another lovely phrase by charlotte brontë who said that a ruffled mind
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
i mean i thought i knew about the display of ostrich and it's very dramatic i mean the male comes and and opens his wings and then sways his head from side to side and ruffles and it's very dramatic stuff
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 320 PIPE...
find the sausage tree pride in this area so I do need to move off anyway so we see looks like a juvenile or not it's actually sure which species this one is those ruffled feathers very cold
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 265 PIPE...
gas that have you know followed them for a very long time and they have been naming this highness or they have a nomenclature from something of food ruffles mace soup
Video examples
These Animals Will Be...
Except I'm not a hot guy my old needle which is something you know if you watched our life I don't want to ruffle your feathers They'll be a success
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 214 PIPE...
ever have the absolute definition of feathers ruffled right up there with a pecking order sorry my boy I don't think it's a nest I
Video examples
Quelea Mega-Flock Hunted...
the survivors may have had their feathers ruffled but they've learned an important lesson
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
George Hill
American Athlete
Sometimes you have to stand up for what's right, and sometimes that may be ruffling feathers and may be frowned upon by everyone else, but at the end of the day in your heart, knowing you're on the right side of history and knowing that you did the right thing, good or bad, you have to live with that.
Quote examples
Zadie Smith
British Novelist
Some people like just sitting down and being taken for a ride. That's a beautiful thing that fiction can do. But it's not the only thing. In television and film, people are ready to accept any kind of jump cut, but the slightest disturbance on the page ruffles their feathers.
Quote examples
Sucheta Dalal
There is little incentive even for the media to encourage whistle-blowing or ruffling powerful feathers. They lose advertising, are harassed by government and cut off from the all-important 'A' lists of the rich and the powerful.
Quote examples
Chris Harrison
American Entertainer
I've been doing 'The Bachelor' long enough that I don't really care whose feathers I ruffle and how many waves I cause, because my personal life is much more important to me than my professional life now.
Quote examples
Paolo Bacigalupi
American Writer
I think inherently, a little bit, I'm a bit of a pleaser, and I want people to like me and be nice, and to not ruffle feathers and just make everybody happy and stuff. It's a personality flaw.
Quote examples
Esther Rolle
American Actress
I ruffle a lot of feathers. And I'm also selective - that makes you a troublemaker. But so be it. I laid a cornerstone for black actors, and that makes me happy.
Quote examples
Nuseir Yassin
Palestinian Entertainer
Any time you make a big statement about something in the world, you are bound to ruffle some feathers.
Quote examples
Kate Garraway
English Journalist
There's something deliciously flirty about a ruffle.
Quote examples
Charlotte Bronte
British Novelist
A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow.
Quote examples
Anu Malik
Indian Composer
I dont get ruffled easily.
Quote examples
George Hill
American Athlete
Sometimes you have to stand up for what's right, and sometimes that may be ruffling feathers and may be frowned upon by everyone else, but at the end of the day in your heart, knowing you're on the right side of history and knowing that you did the right thing, good or bad, you have to live with that.
Quote examples
Zadie Smith
British Novelist
Some people like just sitting down and being taken for a ride. That's a beautiful thing that fiction can do. But it's not the only thing. In television and film, people are ready to accept any kind of jump cut, but the slightest disturbance on the page ruffles their feathers.
Quote examples
Sucheta Dalal
There is little incentive even for the media to encourage whistle-blowing or ruffling powerful feathers. They lose advertising, are harassed by government and cut off from the all-important 'A' lists of the rich and the powerful.
Quote examples
Chris Harrison
American Entertainer
I've been doing 'The Bachelor' long enough that I don't really care whose feathers I ruffle and how many waves I cause, because my personal life is much more important to me than my professional life now.
Quote examples
Paolo Bacigalupi
American Writer
I think inherently, a little bit, I'm a bit of a pleaser, and I want people to like me and be nice, and to not ruffle feathers and just make everybody happy and stuff. It's a personality flaw.
Quote examples
Esther Rolle
American Actress
I ruffle a lot of feathers. And I'm also selective - that makes you a troublemaker. But so be it. I laid a cornerstone for black actors, and that makes me happy.
Quote examples
Nuseir Yassin
Palestinian Entertainer
Any time you make a big statement about something in the world, you are bound to ruffle some feathers.
Quote examples
Kate Garraway
English Journalist
There's something deliciously flirty about a ruffle.
Quote examples
Charlotte Bronte
British Novelist
A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow.
Quote examples
Anu Malik
Indian Composer
I dont get ruffled easily.
Example 1 of 10
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