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Feather in one's cap

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

An achievement to be proud of, from historical customs of awarding feathers for valor.

Detailed Definition
Rooted in military and Indigenous honor systems, this idiom celebrates distinction. In poetry, it appears in odes, victory songs, or ironic reflections on hollow accolades. Romantic poets may question its worth against inner peace; satirists mock vanity. The feather’s lightness contrasts with weighty achievement, inviting meditation on legacy. Its visual elegance suits lyrical praise, while its potential for irony allows critique of meritocracy or performative success in competitive societies.
Example
Example in poetry:
Tennyson’s “Ulysses” treats voyaging as a feather in one’s cap for aged heroes; A graduation poem: “This degree—a feather in your cap, earned through sleepless nights”; In modest praise: “She saved three lives, yet calls it just another feather in her cap”; Satire: “He brags of minor wins—feathers in a cap full of holes”.
Additional Notes
Rooted in military and Indigenous honor systems, this idiom celebrates distinction. In poetry, it appears in odes or ironic reflections on hollow accolades. Romantic poets may question its worth against inner peace; satirists mock vanity. The feather’s lightness contrasts with weighty achievement, inviting meditation on legacy. Students should analyze how poets balance pride with humility, using this idiom to explore the tension between external validation and intrinsic worth in competitive or hierarchical societies.
Also Known As
Feather in one’s cap Achievement to boast of
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