in fine feather

Among the new tales of Spanish valor told us on the Alhambra hill was this:— When lots were drawn for military service, one blithe young scapegrace found in his hand a fortunate high number, but, walking away in fine feather over his luck, he met the mother of a friend of his, sobbing wildly as she went.

The old fellow was in fine feather and full of jokes.

Pegasus was in fine feather, which seems a strange thing to say of a horse, but of one whose name suggests wings, perhaps it is appropriate.

She can teach them lots of good things and they can be handed back to you in fine feather when your time is yours to enjoy again.”

Without benefit of egg, he was born 50 years ago this week in a movie called The Wise Little Hen, and Donald Duck is still in fine feather.