To feather one's nest

To feather one's nest
Feather Feath"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Feathered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Feathering.}] 1. To furnish with a feather or feathers, as an arrow or a cap. [1913 Webster]

An eagle had the ill hap to be struck with an arrow feathered from her own wing. --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster]

2. To adorn, as with feathers; to fringe. [1913 Webster]

A few birches and oaks still feathered the narrow ravines. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

3. To render light as a feather; to give wings to.[R.] [1913 Webster]

The Polonian story perhaps may feather some tedious hours. --Loveday. [1913 Webster]

4. To enrich; to exalt; to benefit. [1913 Webster]

They stuck not to say that the king cared not to plume his nobility and people to feather himself. --Bacon. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

5. To tread, as a cock. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

{To feather one's nest}, to provide for one's self especially from property belonging to another, confided to one's care; -- an expression taken from the practice of birds which collect feathers for the lining of their nests.

{To feather an oar} (Naut), to turn it when it leaves the water so that the blade will be horizontal and offer the least resistance to air while reaching for another stroke.

{To tar and feather a person}, to smear him with tar and cover him with feathers, as a punishment or an indignity. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • feather one's nest — ► feather one s nest make money illicitly and at someone else s expense. Main Entry: ↑feather …   English terms dictionary

  • feather one's nest — verb enrich oneself by taking advantage of one s position The congressmen feathered his nest through his connection with big business • Hypernyms: ↑enrich • Verb Frames: Somebody s somebody * * * phrasal : to provide for oneself especially… …   Useful english dictionary

  • feather one's nest — idi feather one s nest, to enrich oneself by exploiting one s favorable or privileged position …   From formal English to slang

  • feather one's nest — {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To use for yourself money and power, especially from a public office or job in which you are trusted to help other people. * /The rich man told his lawyer to use his money after he died to build a hospital for poor people …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • feather one's nest — {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To use for yourself money and power, especially from a public office or job in which you are trusted to help other people. * /The rich man told his lawyer to use his money after he died to build a hospital for poor people …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • feather\ one's\ nest — v. phr. informal 1. To use for yourself money and power, especially from a public office or job in which you are trusted to help other people. The rich man told his lawyer to use his money after he died to build a hospital for poor people, but… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • feather one's nest — verb To achieve benefits, especially financial ones, by taking advantage of the opportunities with which one is presented; to amass a comfortable amount of personal wealth. Dempster must have feathered his nest pretty well; he can afford to lose… …   Wiktionary

  • feather one's nest — look after one s own interest (while holding public office or a trusted job etc.) The mayor has been feathering his nest for many years and is now very rich …   Idioms and examples

  • feather one's nest —    To say of someone that they are feathering their nest means that they are taking advantage of their position in order to obtain money and enjoy have a comfortable life …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • feather one's nest — Get rich (from what passes through one s hands), make a handsome profit, look out for number one, provide for one s self …   New dictionary of synonyms

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