spring chicken
Americannoun
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a young chicken, especially a broiler or fryer.
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Slang. a young person.
I don't know his age, but he's no spring chicken.
noun
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Also called: springer. a young chicken, tender for cooking, esp one from two to ten months old
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informal she is no longer young
Etymology
Origin of spring chicken
An Americanism dating back to 1835–45
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As impersonated by Matt Walker, the company’s director and comic frontman, he makes the late-career Las Vegas singer look like a spring chicken.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2025
“The papacy is a huge burden. Especially for an older man,” Adeyemi replies, cutting his eyes at Tremblay, no spring chicken, in a particular way.
From Salon • Nov. 22, 2024
“I mean, I’m 40 years old. I know I’m not a spring chicken anymore.”
From Seattle Times • May 11, 2024
It is worth noting that Trọng himself is no spring chicken, at 79 years old.
From Slate • Sep. 11, 2023
"Well, Lillie,” he said to Mother, "I guess my spring chicken days are over. When you start getting pecks on the cheek from your daughters’ friends, you’re on the decline.”
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
