feather in one's cap

plural feathers in one's cap

1. idiomaticAn accomplishment; particularly one that is flaunted or boasted of.

   He thinks it is quite a feather in his cap that he figured it out for himself.

   4 more examples

   And contrary to his own Expectation, as well as that of every Body else, when he came to Court, the seven and twentieth of July, the Staff was taken from him, rather with mortifying, than agreeable Circumstances ; When a considerable Pension, or at least a Feather in his Cap, was the least that was expected for him.

   1736, Thomas Lediard, The Life of John, Duke of Marlborough, Prince of the Roman Empire

   Everyone was elated with this turn of events, most of all Colonel Cathcart, who was convinced he had won a feather in his cap.

   1961 November 10, Joseph Heller, “Major —— de Coverley”, in Catch-22 […], New York, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, →OCLC, page 137

   However, one of the biggest feathers in Perez's cap is thanks to the 2003 crossover JLA/Avengers, a project nearly two decades in the making that was derailed by bureaucracy and bullheaded decision-making years prior.

   2015, Dan Casey, 100 Things Avengers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die

   On a value-for-money basis, Scotland currently has more feathers in its cap.

   2025 July 9, Mel Holley, “How much should a station cost?”, in RAIL, number 1039, page 27

   Synonyms: plume, notch in one's belt

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see feather, cap.

   He wore a feather in his cap, and wagg'd it too often.

   1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church History of Belgium