spring chicken
Americannoun
-
a young chicken, especially a broiler or fryer.
-
Slang. a young person.
I don't know his age, but he's no spring chicken.
noun
-
Also called: springer. a young chicken, tender for cooking, esp one from two to ten months old
-
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
Mr Biden turns 81 on Monday, making him the oldest president ever, with Mr Trump no spring chicken at 77.
From BBC • Nov. 19, 2023
It is worth noting that Trọng himself is no spring chicken, at 79 years old.
From Slate • Sep. 11, 2023
Yet Ertz is a spring chicken compared with Megan Rapinoe who, at 38, is the oldest woman on the U.S. roster and one of 10 players older than 30.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 11, 2023
“Thought you left the game a long time ago, Ma. You ain’t no spring chicken, you know!”
From "Dragons in a Bag" by Zetta Elliott
![]()
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.