When someone gets upset or offended we often say that "their feathers got ruffled". However, there are many synonyms for this phrase that can be used to avoid repeating this cliche. Some alternatives include "rubbed the wrong way", "got under one's skin", "irritated", "annoyed", "exasperated", or "bothered". Each of these phrases can convey a similar meaning to the phrase "ruffled one's feathers". Furthermore, using a variety of synonyms can add variety and complexity to our speech or writing and make it more interesting to the reader or listener.