Spitting Feathers? What do you think it means?

[erikbloodaxe]

I was just reading an article where someone used 'Spitting feathers' to mean they were angry. Now I've only ever used the term/ heard the term in meaning I'm thirsty.

I'm in my 50's and now wonder when/if the meaning changed.

What does it mean to you, Angry or Thirsty and how old are you?

Thirsty. I’m 48 and from Yorkshire.

Thirsty.

"oh put the kettle on. I'm spitting feathers"

Furious. Beyond furious even!

And I'm 60.

I've heard both meanings. Not sure I've ever used it.

Thirsty. I'm 51 & from the North west

Furiously angry.
But I’m originally from California (been here longer than I lived in my own native country)and learned this phrase upon moving to London… back when dinosaurs roamed.
My mother’s Irish but spent the first 4 years of her life up North when her dad was working in a steel factory. So I grew up in California learning all sorts of crazy Irish- Northern English sayings. We were all called duckies by mom, which I’ve always loved. But I’d come out with these phrases on the school playground and you can imagine the responses I got. Mostly blank stares that said WTF is she saying? Very confusing coming from a California kid who was never far from the beach in my roller skates. 😆

The original meaning was being thirsty, as in mouth is so dry it feels like it is full of feathers. Shakespeare used it as meaning this.

My dad used to say it when he was thirsty. Never heard anyone use the phrase for angry.

Thirsty. Why feathers for anger? Feathers because your mouth is so dry. I'm 58.

Thirsty. My mum used to say it.

I’ve only ever heard it to mean angry.

Spitting feathers = thirsty ie very dry mouth

Spitting tacks = very angry

Thirsty.

Angry

I've only ever heard it to mean thirsty

Angry. 68.

I’d never heard it used until I moved to the NW (from Home Counties). I have heard it used both ways.

‘cracking the flags’ is one that seems to be used for sunny weather when I always think it should be windy weather? Coz flags don’t do anything different in the sun?! Again though didn’t hear it until I moved hear so not one I generally use anyway!

Thirsty. Dry mouth.

Angry

To me it means thirsty. According to the internet the older generation think this while the younger think it means angry.
Their cut off between older and younger is 50.
I am 51.

It hasn't. My 90 year old gran used it for thirsty. Dry mouth.

My mum(77) uses it alot, for angry.

Thirsty

And have you changed your patronising opinion having read this thread? It pays to do a bit of research before assuming what you think is right!