Definition

1. Verb:

   • To disturb the smoothness or evenness of something: To create small waves, folds, or a disordered surface.
   • To upset or discompose someone's composure or feelings: To annoy, irritate, or cause someone to lose their calmness.
   • To erect or fluff up feathers or hair: To cause hair, fur, or feathers to stand up or become untidy.
   • To shuffle or mix randomly: To disturb the order of items, especially cards.

2. Noun:

   • A strip of fabric gathered or pleated on one edge: A decorative frill, often used on clothing.
   • A disturbance or commotion: A noisy fight or a state of agitation.
   • A ripple or small wave on water: A slight disturbance on a surface.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:

  • The wind began to ruffle the surface of the lake. (It created small waves.)
  • Her critical remarks ruffled his composure. (They annoyed him and made him lose his calm.)
  • The bird ruffled its feathers in the cold air. (It fluffed up its feathers.)
  • Please ruffle the cards before dealing. (Shuffle them.)

• Noun:

  • Her dress had a delicate lace ruffle at the collar. (A decorative frill.)
  • The debate caused quite a ruffle among the audience. (A disturbance or commotion.)
  • A ruffle appeared on the pond as the fish jumped. (A small ripple.)

Advanced Usage

• "to ruffle someone's feathers": To annoy or upset someone.
  • His arrogant attitude tends to ruffle a few feathers in the office.
• "without a ruffle": Calmly, without disturbance or agitation.
  • She handled the crisis without a ruffle.

Variants and Related Words

• Ruffled (adj): Having a disordered or disturbed surface; feeling or showing irritation.
  • He had a ruffled appearance after the argument.
• Unruffled (adj): Calm and not disturbed or agitated.
  • She remained unruffled by the criticism.

Synonyms

• Verb: Disturb, agitate, ripple, disarrange, annoy, irritate, fluster.
• Noun: Frill, flounce, ripple, disturbance, commotion.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Ruffle up: To make something, especially hair or feathers, stand up or become untidy.
  • The cat ruffled up its fur when it saw the dog.
• Ruffle through: To search through something quickly and carelessly, disturbing its order.
  • He ruffled through the papers on his desk looking for the key.

Related Idioms

• Smooth someone's ruffled feathers: To calm someone down after they have been upset or offended.
  • After the disagreement, he tried to smooth her ruffled feathers with an apology.

Noun

1. a noisy fight
2. a high tight collar
3. a strip of pleated material used as a decoration or a trim

Verb

1. pleat or gather into a ruffle
   • ruffle the curtain fabric
2. disturb the smoothness of
   • ruffle the surface of the water
3. erect or fluff up
   • the bird ruffled its feathers
4. mix so as to make a random order or arrangement
   • shuffle the cards
5. twitch or flutter
   • the paper flicked
6. discompose
   • This play is going to ruffle some people
   • She has a way of ruffling feathers among her colleagues
7. to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others
   • He struts around like a rooster in a hen house
8. trouble or vex
   • ruffle somebody's composure
9. stir up (water) so as to form ripples