What is Feather In Your Cap?
1.
Back in the time where wearing hats was common etiquette one would often see a man with a feather in his cap. This would signify he has done something worthy of recognition, like completing a goal or winning something. Often, however, the British would see Americans wearing feathers, for seemingly no reason, and laugh at them for their conceitedness. They even created a song to mock Americans, known to us today as "Yankee Doodle". The feather, for a male, would be placed in the left side and for a female it would be placed in the right side. That tradition is continued today, only in place of a feather and a cap people use earrings, left ear means straight and right ear signifies homosexuality. A saying has also formed since then, to "Place a feather in your cap" which is used whenever someone wins something.
Modern day use:
Guy-1: Hey, I just won that hard sporting event!
Guy-2: Neat, that’s something to place a feather in your cap for!
Guy-1: Okay, what's that mean?
Guy-2: umm.. I don't know, let me look it up on urban dictionary. By the way, does that guy over there have his earring on the right ear?
Guy-1: why.. yes, yes he does! He must be a homosexual, for a straight male would wear it on the left.
19th century use:
Gentleman-1: Good morrow, friend, did you see that rousing game of stick ball?
Gentleman-2: Why yes, you sure did show those men whose the better stick-player. That's something to put a feather in your cap for.
Gentleman-1: Why yes, yes it is. But I better place it on the left side, as I am not a homosexual.
History-slug: Remember kids, always place the feather on the side that fits you best! Homosexuals and females on the right, straight males and lesbians on the left!
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