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

However, they may not realize the danger this creates for the birds they love.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

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

“I love the majesty and structure of the white sage,” he says, pointing out the dried branches he leaves for the birds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026

As for the birds, we have no advice.

From Barron's ● Nov. 25, 2025

It was very dull for the birds in jail.

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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