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Glite Dictionary
to feather one's nest

to feather one's nest

1 8.3
Use a job or position to get money for yourself in a dishonest way
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : llenarse los bolsillos
  • Why bother to make those assertions when no one is accusing the Romneys of using any position he had to feather his nest, the reason to have a blind trust in the first place?

Examples

  • What's uglier than somebody stealing from the fighting boys to feather his nest?

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Many politicians are often accused of trying to feather their nests by exploiting public funds for personal gain.

  • He was criticized for using his influence at the company to feather his nest instead of helping his colleagues.

  • It's unethical to feather your nest while neglecting the needs of the community you represent.

Synonyms

to line one's pockets
vsto feather one's nest
  • Informal
2 8.4

To take money for yourself in a dishonest way using a job or position

uses a position or opportunity to gain money or benefits selfishly

How Dishonest

to embezzle
28 8.1
loot
53 4.4
to feather one's nest
  • Informal
1 8.3
to line one's pockets
  • Informal
2 8.4

Surface Forms

feather one's nest infinitive
feathered one's nest past
feathered one's nest past participle
feathering one's nest present participle
feathers one's nest third person singular

Morphology

feather + one + nest

The literal image of adding feathers to a nest suggests making a place more comfortable or improving one’s own situation, so learners who know 'feather' and 'nest' may infer a general sense of self‑benefit. However, the specific meaning of using a position to gain money or advantages (often dishonestly) is a metaphorical shift not fully predictable from the parts, so the expression is only partially transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Feather one's nest may come from the picture of a bird gathering soft feathers to line its nest and make a warm, comfortable home. So when someone 'feathers their nest' they quietly add money or benefits to make their life nicer, which is why the phrase means 'to use your job or position to get money or benefits for yourself'.