Phrase guide

mess of pottage

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Something of trivial value, especially of immediate value.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

anything of trivial value

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a mess of pottage

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: value, economic value

History

Etymology

See sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage.