no spring chicken

Idioms and Phrases

No longer a young person, as in Sally's no spring chicken, but she plays a fine game of tennis . This unflattering expression, often applied to women, has been used since the early 1700s, although spring was omitted from the earliest citation (1711).

Example Sentences

“I’m thinking of getting Maria a ring for Christmas. You know, like an engagement ring. With something shiny in it. I know, we haven’t known each other very long. And we wouldn’t have to get married right away. On the other hand, I’m no spring chicken and I’d like to settle down and raise a couple of kids and maybe a couple of hamsters, too, you know?”

From Literature

Mr Biden turns 81 on Monday, making him the oldest president ever, with Mr Trump no spring chicken at 77.

From BBC

It is worth noting that Trọng himself is no spring chicken, at 79 years old.

From Slate

Gone a month shy of 90, McCarthy was certainly no spring chicken, but he still closed out his life working on a number of projects that he ostensibly intended to finish, including a screenplay for "Blood Meridian," long purported to be an unfilmable book.

From Salon

Especially if Trump, at 76 no spring chicken himself, is in the race.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• aged
• aging
• old
• retired