Chickens' insteps

Posted by R. Berg on May 20, 2007

In Reply to: Chickens' insteps posted by CTRL on May 19, 2007

: I know that people refer to small/non-existent muscles as "chickens' insteps", but where did this expression originate? How can a muscle look like the inner part of a chicken's foot?

Chickens must control their feet by using small muscles. However, don't assume that the expression has a visual origin. Maybe it isn't based on the look of anything. It's likely similar in origin to "as scarce as hens' teeth." ~rb

• Chickens' insteps RRC 20/May/07
  • Chickens' insteps David FG 21/May/07
    • Chickens' insteps RRC 21/May/07