Feather in your Cap

How often do we use a term without considering the origins? I was complimenting my daughter recently, and as the words, "feather in your cap" rolled off my tongue, I immediately considered how dated this sounded.

According to Wikipedia, "the term a feather in your cap is an English idiomatic phrase believed to have derived from the general custom in some cultures, of a warrior adding a new feather to their head-gear for every enemy slain, or in other cases from the custom of establishing the success of a hunter as being the first to bag a game bird by the plucking of the feathers of that prey and placing them in the hat band. The phrase today has altered to a more peaceful allusion, where it is used to refer to any laudable success or achievement by an individual that may help that person in the future."

Only when we stop to think about how dated some of our idioms are, do we consider that more fitting alternatives are not easy to construct.  "Jewel in your crown" is one of my favorites.  Most of the following just don't have the oomph of feather in your cap:

• trophy in your case
• badge on your sash
• fish on your stringer
• link in your chain
• line on your resume
• layer on your cake
• chapter in your book
• guest spot on Oprah or Leno
• course in your feast

Would love to hear some contemporary favorites!