No spring chicken

Meaning

Said of people who are no longer young but may behave as though they were.

Examples

Dad’s marrying again, to a woman in her 60s. Mind you, he’s no spring chicken either.

Where did it originate?

USA, 20th century. Young chickens are considered more tasty to eat than those slaughtered later in the year.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

No spring chicken