To look after one's own financial interests, honestly or not, in order to lead a comfortable life

Citing a progressive economic program, the politician befriended all the local industrialists, but he was just feathering his own nest as he was interested only in winning the elections

Con la proposta di un nuovo piano economico, il politico ha ottenuto l'appoggio di tutti gli industriali locali, ma in realtà stava facendo solo i suoi interessi visto che mirava solo alla "poltrona"

One of the country's most astute political observers made an eerily prescient assessment about the puppet-candidate for president. "If he becomes president, immediately corruption will increase. Everybody will feather his nest. At that point, he will be nudged to the side and be made a scapegoat for the mess. Then the military will take over"

Uno dei più sottili osservatori politici del paese ha fatto una sinistra previsione circa il candidato-burattino per la presidenza. "Se sarà eletto presidente, la corruzione aumenterà immediatamente e ognuno si riempirà le tasche. A quel punto, verrà spinto da parte e diventerà il capro espiatorio per tutto il caos provocato. Poi i militari prenderanno il potere"

When he took office as President he promised that protecting the environment would be a top priority, but his critics charged that his main priority was feathering his own nest, and the resulting corruption scandal forced him from office

Quando venne eletto come presidente promise che la protezione dell'ambiente avrebbe avuto la priorità assoluta, ma i suoi critici lo accusarono di avere come unico scopo l'arricchimento personale, e il conseguente scandalo per corruzione lo costrinse a dimettersi

This expression refers to the habits of birds that, after building a nest, line it with feathers to make it warm and more confortable for themselves and for their young