Spitting feathers

[gilletwoes]

When people say they are spitting feathers I always thought it meant you were thirsty and desperate for a brew. But now it seems to be used to indicate how angry you are. And I just want to comment to those that use it that way that what you really mean is ‘spitting tacks’.

or have I got that wrong?

It's "spitting" tacks. You can Google it... it originates from upholsterer's tacks.

I’ve only ever heard and used it to mean reallly angry. Never heard of spitting tacks.

Spitting feathers - really angry

Splitting hairs - being needlessly pedantic

Never heard to spitting tacks.

(Londoner, if that makes any difference.)

I've just googled it and it says it can mean either! Being very angry or very thirsty.

Have always known spitting feathers as angry.

not a Londoner by any means but this is exactly what I understand by the terms too.

Spitting feathers = thirsty
Spitting blood = Angry

Yes! On both counts. Spitting feathers - thirsty. Spitting tacks - angry.
And I shudder every time I hear 'begs the question' when they mean poses or raises a question. It's made the language that bit poorer that the original meaning is being lost.

Its not really a case of it used to mean one thing and now another, it has meant both for probably centuries and which way you think is likely to depend on where you grew up

No right or wrong answer

Ah ok thank you! I must've misheard it. That does make sense. Like a tailor/upholsterer might spit them out in anger if he made a mistake?

When you are doing upholstery or cabinetmaking, you hold the tacks between your lips with the points aiming out for ease of use as you're making. I've done it with my Dad.

If you're angry enough to want to say an expletive, you expell them - spitting tacks.

Yeah, that's kind of exactly what I was imagining. Thank you! X