Synonyms

for the birds

Cultural

Worthless: “The last scheme you came up with was really for the birds.”

for the birds Idioms

Worthless, not to be taken seriously, no good. For example, This conference is for the birds—let's leave now. This term has been said to allude to horse droppings from which birds would extract seeds. This seemingly fanciful theory is borne out by a more vulgar version of this idiom, shit for the birds. [Slang; first half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

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for the birds

The species at one time bred along the Exmoor coastline, which continues to provide ideal foraging, including an abundance of fish, and breeding habitat for the birds.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Hemsley warned it was not uncommon for the birds not to breed again after losing their nests.

From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026

“H Is for Hawk” is for the birds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2025

As for the birds, we have no advice.

From Barron's ● Nov. 25, 2025

“Do I pay half-fare for the birds, or do they go free?” asked Mr. Popper.

From "Mr. Popper's Penguins" by Florence Atwater and Richard Atwater

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

for the birds

Example Sentences

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