鸟类的羽毛feather这个简单的词在英语中有两个非常生动的表达。第1个当动词用， To feather one's own nest， 意思就是Make oneself richer by spending money on oneself，rather than spending on others。中文的意思是中饱私囊。比如，

The administration is filled with a bunch of vultures who cares nothing but feathering their own nests.

第2种当名词用， A feather in one's cap 出自印第安人的风俗，一旦有什么成就，做出了什么成绩，会在帽子上插一根羽毛，引申为值得骄傲的事情。比如，

The nomination becomes a feather in his cap.