Meaning of feel one's oats | Babel Free

Definitions

To feel energetic or frisky; to behave in a vigorous or bold manner; to feel empowered and important.

Equivalents

Examples

“In fact, precisely as a rash, restive horse is said to feel his oats, so Turkey felt his coat.”

“Next to the officer is a shabby-looking boy, whose seat is by the right jamb of the jail door. Of all boys just old enough to feel their oats, this boy is the most commonplace.”

“The old man feeling his oats, as he leaned with his back against the bar, said to us with a noticeable degree of pride, "Lads, I'm proud of every one of you. Men who will fight to protect my interests has my purse at their command."”

“Sometimes—and who could blame the surveyor?—when the pony was “feeling his oats,” he might step a little higher and farther, and in that case the beneficiary of the scrip might get a thousand or two more acres in his survey than the scrip called for.”

“"Them hosses are feeling their oats," said McGuire. "Can't tell what they'd be up to the minute I turned my back on 'em. Might jump that old fence and be off, for all I know."”

““You’re feeling your oats,” said Gin. “It makes you expect too much of the world, feeling your oats. You can’t help thinking there must be something to do about it. There isn’t; because whatever you do about it, it’s not settled.””

“The Nationals gave the Coalition its Senate majority and yesterday were feeling their oats.”

“"It's a tough road because kids at that time are developmentally feeling their oats," Beverage said.”

CEFR level