ruffle up

USAGE SUMMARY

"ruffle up" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about someone or something getting stirred up or agitated, as in this example: "The loud noise ruffled up the birds in the trees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

And also go and read the hilarious story about when JB "thought" he was about to ruffle up Maurice Colclough and instead found Wade Dooley there instead- now that is funny!

BBC

"They just don't want to ruffle up the feathers of a different group," he said.

Los Angeles Times

No doubt it would also force us to ruffle up the clear conscience earned by blind and haphazard humanitarian actions.

Huffington Post

"If someone is going to tell me that, there are going to be veins on nictitating membranes and feathers that ruffle up majestically". Keane was referring to three seconds of film showing Marahute ruffling her feathers in pride over her brood of eggs.

Los Angeles Times

Then if you let go, it will stretch back into place and will ruffle up your trimming a little bit more.

WikiHow

The can had a nasty warning that implied my feet might rot away or at least that my skin would ruffle up.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"I think she's a very good speaker, and she's ruffling up everybody.

The New York Times

They've turned it into a business and they're profiting from it: this gets my Latin ruffles up!

The New York Times

Bow Street Inn, 121 Bow Street, [phone], fax [phone], www.bowstreetinn.com, is ruffled up inside an old brick beer warehouse.

The New York Times - Travel

On the cover Mabelle, full length, stood looking sideways, surprised and ironical, elegantly choked by a hunting-stock, hair ruffled up as though she had just pulled a hat off, hand holding bunched-up gauntlets propped on a hip.

Columbia University

"Three ewe lambs had to be put down by the vets, and a number of other sheep had obviously been ruffled up by the dog too". The dog's owner has agreed to pay compensation, and the animal has been put down.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ruffle up" to describe someone's feelings, consider the intensity. It suggests a mild to moderate level of agitation, not extreme anger or distress.

Common error

While "ruffle up" is acceptable in many situations, avoid overusing it in highly formal or professional writing. Opt for more precise and sophisticated vocabulary when describing disruptions or emotional states.

Linguistic Context

Ruffle up" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, acting as a transitive verb when it takes a direct object, signifying the action of disturbing or disarranging something. As evidenced by Ludwig's examples, it also often has an intransitive function.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

**Ruffle up" is a phrasal verb that signifies disturbing the smoothness or arrangement of something, or agitating someone emotionally. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and acceptability in a range of contexts. This guide provides a detailed analysis of its usage, including common contexts such as news and media, and offers related phrases like "mess up" and "disarrange". While generally neutral in tone, it's best to avoid overusing "ruffle up" in highly formal writing. Consider it as a versatile term to describe a moderate degree of disturbance or agitation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mess up

Focuses on creating disorder or disarray, often in a physical sense.

disarrange

Emphasizes disturbing the existing arrangement or order of something.

disturb the smoothness

Highlights the act of disrupting a smooth or even surface.

agitate

Implies causing someone to become anxious or stirred up emotionally.

stir up

Suggests provoking a reaction or causing trouble.

discombobulate

Indicates a state of confusion or disorientation.

unsettle

Emphasizes causing a feeling of unease or anxiety.

disrupt

Focuses on interrupting the normal course or state of something.

muss up

Specifically refers to disarranging hair or clothing.

crumple

Involves creasing or crushing something, often fabric or paper.

FAQs

How can I use "ruffle up" in a sentence?

You can use "ruffle up" to describe physically disturbing something's smoothness, like "The wind ruffled up the surface of the lake." It can also describe emotional disturbance, as in "His comments ruffled up a few feathers at the meeting."

What's the difference between "mess up" and "ruffle up"?

"Mess up" often implies a greater degree of disorder or damage than "ruffle up". "Ruffle up" suggests a lighter disturbance or agitation.

What can I say instead of "ruffle up" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "disarrange", "disturb", or "agitate" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is "ruffle up" always used in a negative context?

While "ruffle up" often implies a disturbance or agitation, it is not always negative. For example, you might "ruffle up" someone's hair playfully, which is a positive action.