No spring chicken

Meaning

Not young or no longer as fresh as before.

Usage

Used jokingly about age or experience.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Poultry sellers noted older chickens were not as desirable as spring birds.

Used since the nineteenth century in British and American English.