spitting feathers

[fishie]

i have always known this to mean thirsty, as in very dry mouth. but i have seen lots of people use it to mean angry.

one explanation suggests it is literally frothing at the mouth, so looks like feathers = rage.

what is correct?

I've always known it as meaning angry. But then English isn't my first language.

I've always thought it means very angry....

I think that both may be correct; perhaps regional variations?

This is my first foray into the "Pedants' corner". Is it OK not to use capitals at the start of sentences?

although according to this website it can mean either!

thirsty but wrongly interpreted by the southerners??

just asked dh what he thinks "it means someone is so angry they can't eat their chicken"

Fishie, I think the rest of the English-speaking world might be confusing it with 'spitting nails', which means v angry.

Cristina just for you i'll try a few capitals but this keyboard is Not Good.

FAQ your link makes good sense. i may well have got it from beano or other comics, much play with pillows and feathers which would explain the northern thing. i am southern you see.

isn't that another northernism 'spitting tacks' onebat? spitting fire good ole rage.

It's OK, Fishie, my first post on these kind of threads and still gauging reaction, whether it's all very serious or more light-hearted.

I've always thought it implied impotent rage.

Didn't know about thirsty origins. Am soft southern bastard.

I am southern and always understood it to describe incredible thirst, as in: 'Whose round is it I'm spitting feathers?!'