In the following question on English idioms, choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the expression Ruffle somebody s feather, used to describe causing annoyance or irritation.

Introduction / Context:
This idiom question tests your understanding of the expression Ruffle somebody s feather. The image comes from birds, whose feathers lie smooth when they are calm and become ruffled when they are disturbed. In human communication, the phrase is used figuratively to describe actions or remarks that upset, annoy, or irritate someone, disturbing their calm mental state.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Idiom: Ruffle somebody s feather.
• Options include gambling, escaping responsibility, annoying someone, and showing contempt.
• You must select the alternative that best matches the emotional impact implied by ruffling feathers.
• The focus is on causing irritation, not on risk taking or moral judgment.

Concept / Approach:
When you ruffle a bird s feathers, you disturb its smooth appearance and likely its comfort. Similarly, ruffling somebody s feather means to upset that person, usually by saying or doing something they do not like. The correct answer should express this idea of causing annoyance or minor anger. Options that refer to gambling, running away from responsibility, or expressing contempt do not capture the central sense of irritation.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Visualise the metaphor of feathers being smoothed down when calm and ruffled when disturbed. Step 2: Link that image to people losing their calm when someone irritates them. Step 3: Examine option a, gamble, which refers to betting money or taking financial risks and has no connection to annoyance. Step 4: Examine option b, escape responsibility, which describes avoiding duties, not directly upsetting others. Step 5: Examine option c, annoy somebody, which clearly expresses the idea of disturbing someone s peace of mind. Step 6: Examine option d, show contempt for, which is a stronger feeling of disrespect and is not the usual implied level of irritation here. Step 7: Decide that option c best expresses the idiomatic meaning.

Verification / Alternative check:
Take a sample sentence such as His critical remarks ruffled the manager s feathers. If we replace ruffled the manager s feathers with annoyed the manager, the sentence keeps the same emotional tone. Replacing it with made the manager gamble or made the manager escape responsibility is clearly wrong. Even show contempt for is not accurate, because someone may be annoyed without being treated with open contempt. This test confirms that annoy somebody is the correct explanation of the idiom.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Gamble: Focuses on risk and money, unrelated to causing irritation.
Escape responsibility: Describes a person avoiding duties but does not necessarily upset others in the way the idiom suggests.
Show contempt for: Implies strong disrespect or scorn, which is different from merely irritating someone.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes over interpret feather based idioms by thinking of birds literally instead of considering human emotional states. Others choose show contempt for because it sounds serious and formal. To avoid such errors, remember that many idioms describe everyday emotions like irritation, disappointment, or embarrassment rather than extreme feelings. Linking ruffle somebody s feather to the simple idea of getting on someone s nerves will help you recall the correct meaning quickly during exams.

Final Answer:
The idiom Ruffle somebody s feather means annoy somebody, so option c is correct.