feather off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feather off" is not correct in written English, as it is not a formally recognized phrase. You would not be able to use this phrase in a sentence, and you could not make an example with it.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The lady had to wait for the light and by the time she caught up, a rag picker with a bag, had the hat and was pulling the feather off, preparatory to stuffing it in his pack.

The New Yorker

Her son picked a feather off the floor.

The New Yorker

School police escorted Feather off campus before most of the children came outside for their lunch break.

Los Angeles Times

But when I am aware, I can let a judgement go as a feather off my palm on a windy day.

Huffington Post

If you aim for the halfway point of the feather, you won't even be close to hurting the chicken but will take enough of the feather off to make it difficult for the chicken to fly.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Mammals chew the major flight feathers off and leave ragged quills, and a sniff of the corpse often betrays a fox as the murderer.

The Guardian - Travel

A Sunday stroll around Bestival is a surrealist dream, and nowhere more so than on the main stage, where today's aerobics class (following yesterday's slot by Mr Motivator) is being held by a psychedelic cockatoo and a woman in a neon bird outfit muttering "I've sweated my feathers off".

The Guardian - Music

I work my tail-feathers off to take premium care of the body the Creator has given me.

Huffington Post

A goose who burned her feathers off trying protect her six eggs from a fire has adopted an orphaned group of goslings.

Huffington Post

It's that rare bird, where I'm trying to take the feathers off but keep it whole". Being the center of a piece is quite a change of pace for Itzin, who has been a member of the Matrix Theatre Company for the last eight years, starring in such productions as 2000's "Waiting for Godot" and "The Birthday Party" in 2001.

Los Angeles Times

So while the Jacques Green-produced Danger slowly emerges through beats and twinkling synths, the bouncy, Diplo-assisted Light as a Feather shows off her more playful side, while the delirious Got Paid is completely bonkers and that's even before Wiley shows up.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "feather off" in formal writing. Opt for more standard English expressions that convey your intended meaning, such as "pluck feathers" or "drift away".

Common error

Don't assume that because a phrase appears in some online sources, it is grammatically sound. Always verify with reputable grammar guides or dictionaries before using unfamiliar phrases.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "feather off" is ambiguous due to its non-standard nature. As Ludwig AI points out, it is not a formally recognized phrase. The phrase seems to attempt a verb-particle construction, but the lack of established use hinders clear categorization.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "feather off" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. As Ludwig AI explains, it is not a formally recognized phrase, leading to potential ambiguity and misinterpretations. Although it appears in some online sources, it's best to avoid using it in formal contexts. Instead, opt for more established alternatives like "pluck feathers", "shed feathers", or "drift away", depending on your intended meaning. When in doubt, always verify the correctness of a phrase with reputable grammar guides to ensure clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pluck feathers

Focuses on the action of removing feathers, especially from a bird.

shed feathers

Describes the natural process of losing feathers.

take flight

Emphasizes the action of starting to fly, suggesting movement away from something.

drift away

Suggests a gradual and gentle departure.

flake off

Implies a peeling or scaling away from a surface.

brush off

Indicates dismissing something as unimportant.

shrug off

Suggests indifference or lack of concern.

dust off

Implies removing dust or trivial matters.

ward off

Focuses on repelling something undesirable.

shake off

Suggests getting rid of something unwanted or negative.

FAQs

How can I use a similar expression to "feather off"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "pluck feathers" (for removing feathers), "shed feathers" (for the natural loss of feathers), or "drift away" (for a gradual departure).

Is "feather off" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "feather off" is not correct in written English as it's not a formally recognized phrase. It's better to use more established expressions.

What does "feather off" mean?

The meaning of "feather off" is not clearly defined due to its incorrect grammatical structure. The context in which it is used may suggest meanings related to removal, detachment, or gradual disappearance, but it is best to use clearer alternatives.

Are there any idiomatic expressions using "feather" that are similar to "feather off"?

While "feather off" is not an idiom, you might consider related idioms like "light as a feather" (meaning very light) or phrases that describe shedding or removing something, depending on the intended meaning.