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feather bed

C1-C2
UK/ˈfeðə ˌbed/US/ˈfeðər ˌbed/ or /ˈfeðərbed/

Mainly literary or figurative. The noun can appear in historical/hotel contexts; the verb is journalistic/economic.

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Definition

Meaning

A soft bed with a mattress stuffed with feathers for comfort.

A situation of excessive comfort, luxury, or coddling that may prevent someone from becoming strong, resilient, or self-sufficient. Also used as a verb meaning to provide with cushy advantages or financial support.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

The core meaning is concrete and dated. The extended, figurative meaning is more common in modern usage, almost always negative (overprotected, spoiled). As a verb, it often implies unfair financial subsidy or protection.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The compound noun is spelled with a space ('feather bed') or hyphen ('feather-bed') in BrE; AmE often uses 'featherbed' as one word, especially for the verb. The verb's past tense is 'feather-bedded' (BrE) or 'featherbedded' (AmE).

Connotations

Identical. Both use the figurative sense critically.

Frequency

Slightly higher frequency in AmE in economic/business contexts (e.g., 'featherbedding' = union practices guaranteeing jobs).

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
luxurious feather bedfeather bed diplomacyfeather-bedded industry
medium
sleep in a feather bedstate feather bedunion featherbedding
weak
old feather bedsoft feather bedfeather bed agreement

Grammar

Valency Patterns

to feather-bed [someone/something] (with something)to be feather-bedded

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

pampercossetcoddlespoon-feedmollycoddle

Neutral

down mattresssoft bedcushy jobsubsidise

Weak

comfortprotectsupport

Vocabulary

Antonyms

hardshipausteritydeprivechallenge

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “born on a feather bed”
  • “feather one's own nest (related but distinct)”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Criticism of government subsidies or protective regulations for inefficient industries: 'The state feather-bedded the national airline for decades.'

Academic

In economic or historical texts discussing protectionism or labour relations.

Everyday

Rare. Might describe an overprotected child: 'He was raised in a feather bed.'

Technical

In historical reenactment or antique furniture descriptions.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • The council was accused of feather-bedding the contractors with overly generous terms.
  • That industry has been feather-bedded for too long.

American English

  • The union was accused of featherbedding to preserve unnecessary jobs.
  • They featherbedded the deal with hidden subsidies.

adjective

British English

  • He led a feather-bed existence, unaware of real-world struggles.
  • The feather-bed clauses in the contract were controversial.

American English

  • She rejected the featherbed job offer, wanting a real challenge.
  • It was a featherbed arrangement for the investors.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • The princess slept on a big feather bed.
B1
  • The old hotel room had a very soft feather bed.
B2
  • He grew up in a feather-bed environment, so he wasn't prepared for difficulties.
C1
  • Critics argue that continuous government grants simply feather-bed inefficient industries, preventing necessary reforms.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a bed so soft it's made of FEATHERS. Now imagine a person or company lying in it, being spoiled and protected from any hard reality.

Conceptual Metaphor

COMFORT IS SOFTNESS / SPOILING IS OVERPROVIDING COMFORT / PROTECTION IS CUSHIONING

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Do not confuse with 'перьевая ручка' (fountain pen).
  • The figurative verb 'to feather-bed' is not translated as 'стелить постель' (to make a bed). It's closer to 'баловать', 'опекать чрезмерно', 'субсидировать'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'feather bed' to mean any comfortable bed (most modern beds are not stuffed with feathers).
  • Confusing 'feather-bed' (verb) with 'feather one's nest' (to enrich oneself).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
After the privatisation, the new management ended the decades of that had made the company uncompetitive.
Multiple Choice

What is the most common modern use of 'feather-bed' as a verb?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Historically, yes. A feather bed was a mattress stuffed with feathers. Today, 'feather bed' often refers to a feather-filled mattress topper placed on top of a standard mattress.

Rarely. It is almost always used pejoratively to criticise overprotection, inefficiency, or unfair advantage. A neutral term like 'subsidising' or 'supporting' would be used for positive contexts.

'Pamper' is broader (can refer to beauty treatments, luxuries). 'Feather-bed' is more specific, implying systematic protection from hardship, often in an institutional or economic context.

It is specialised. Common in journalism, political commentary, and economics, but not in everyday conversation.