The down feathers in the old quilt had trapped so much dust that it smelled musty.

The hawk preened its flight feathers carefully before the long migration.

The bird preened its contour feathers before taking flight, smoothing each barb to ensure aerodynamic efficiency.

After the storm, the beach was scattered with sea feathers that shimmered in the sun.

Whenever the topic of money comes up, the feathers fly and the meeting descends into a heated argument.

When he discovers the deception, he spits feathers.

After reading the unfair review, she was spitting feathers and refused to discuss the matter further.

After two hours on the hot trail, we were ready to spit feathers.

When he discovered the mistake, he spat feathers at the meeting and refused to speak to anyone.

For many early-career researchers, feathers in one's cap like winning a regional science fair and publishing a first paper can significantly boost confidence.