feather their nests

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feather their nests" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe individuals who enrich themselves at the expense of others, often in a selfish or greedy manner. Example: "The politician was accused of trying to feather his nest by accepting bribes from wealthy donors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

"People want to stay home and feather their nests, so to speak".

The New York Times

Although managers are self-interested, the environment in which they operate gives them relatively little leeway to feather their nests at shareholders' expense.

Harvard Business Review

The EU has done enough to feather their nests; I don't need to add to their nest eggs when I go shopping.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mo has diagnosed a condition he calls "third-termitis," where presidents, fearing an impoverished superannuation, feather their nests on the way out the door.

The New York Times

The researchers found, however, that competition sets the boundaries for a mere 12percentt of Himalayan bird species, while temperature and habitat dictate where 48 and 40percentt of species, respectively, feather their nests.

Princeton University

But he continues to believe that the vast majority of MPs are "upright, decent honourable people" who have come into politics not to feather their nests, but to make a difference.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Evolutionarily (read more about this in What Do Women Want?: Adventures in the Science of Female Desire), women want a man who can feather their nest and care for their offspring, whether or not they have offspring.

Huffington Post

Warner, leader of the Independent Liberal Party, said last summer he'd found wrongdoing right at the heart of government: MPs "feathering their nests" by "raping the treasury".

The Guardian - Sport

OVER the past decade, American companies have tried hard to find ways to discourage senior managers from feathering their nests at the expense of their shareholders.

The Economist

Our living standards have been affected". That is a complaint heard often in this country, where the infrastructure is crumbling and jobs are hard to find, yet officials seem preoccupied with feathering their nests.

The New York Times

Underpaid civil servants will occasionally take bribes; political kingpins like Boss Tweed of Tammany Hall will build patronage empires, meanwhile feathering their nests until such time as ambitious do-gooders arouse the outrage of the sleeping populace.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "feather their nests", ensure the context clearly indicates an element of self-serving behavior or potential corruption.

Common error

Avoid using "feather their nests" in contexts where individuals are simply improving their financial situation through legitimate means. The phrase carries a negative connotation of exploitation or unfair advantage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feather their nests" functions as an idiomatic expression. Ludwig AI confirms that it's used to describe the act of enriching oneself, often unethically, by taking advantage of a position or situation. Examples show its usage in contexts involving politicians, executives, and other figures in positions of power.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The idiom "feather their nests" describes the act of enriching oneself, often at the expense of others, typically by abusing a position of power or trust. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in News & Media. While the phrase is generally understood, it carries a negative connotation, making it suitable for critical commentary rather than neutral description. Related phrases include "line their pockets" and "enrich themselves". It's important to use this phrase accurately, ensuring that the context implies an element of self-serving behavior or potential corruption.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

line their pockets

Focuses on direct monetary gain, implying illicit or unethical accumulation of wealth.

pad their wallets

Similar to "line their pockets" but emphasizes personal financial gain.

enrich themselves

A more general term for becoming wealthy, without necessarily implying wrongdoing.

milk the system

Suggests exploiting a system or organization for personal benefit.

exploit their position

Focuses on using a position of power or authority for personal enrichment.

reap undue benefits

Highlights the unfairness of the gain, suggesting the benefits are undeserved.

accumulate wealth unscrupulously

Emphasizes the unethical nature of the wealth accumulation.

secure personal gain

A broader term referring to any form of personal advantage acquired.

advance their own interests

Focuses on promoting one's own agenda, which may include financial gain.

capitalize on opportunities

A more neutral term, but can imply taking advantage of situations for personal gain.

FAQs

What does it mean to "feather their nests"?

To "feather their nests" means to enrich oneself, often by taking advantage of one's position or access to resources in a way that may be considered unethical or unfair. It implies a focus on personal gain at the expense of others.

How can I use "feather their nests" in a sentence?

You might say, "The politician was accused of trying to "line their pockets" by steering government contracts to companies they had a personal stake in".

What are some alternatives to "feather their nests"?

You can use alternatives like "line their pockets", "enrich themselves", or "exploit their position" depending on the context.

Is "feather their nests" a formal or informal expression?

"Feather their nests" is generally considered an informal, idiomatic expression suitable for news articles, opinion pieces, and general conversation. While understandable in more formal contexts, alternatives like "secure personal gain" or "advance their own interests" might be preferred in academic or business writing.