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.
“I mean, I’m 40 years old. I know I’m not a spring chicken anymore.”
From Seattle Times ● May 11, 2024
“I’m not a 22-year-old spring chicken anymore. I’m 31 and I got to find a way to stay fresh and stay warm.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 5, 2024
It is worth noting that Trọng himself is no spring chicken, at 79 years old.
From Slate ● Sep. 11, 2023
"At the age of 30, you're no spring chicken, but you do have a really good idea of where your game is at. If needed, I'm ready to go."
From BBC ● Jan. 8, 2022
"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.
