Phrase guide

no spring chicken

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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Said of a person who is no longer particularly young.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

Examples

  • They expect me to carry this box myself while climbing the stairs to the seventh floor? I don't know about that — I'm no spring chicken.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see no, spring, chicken.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the description of a young person as a spring chicken.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: ei mikään poikanen — person who is no longer particularly young
  • Finnish: ei mikään tyttönen — person who is no longer particularly young
  • French: plus tout jeune — person who is no longer particularly young
  • French: plus de la première jeunesse — person who is no longer particularly young
  • German: kein junger Hüpfer — person who is no longer particularly young
  • Hungarian: nem mai gyerek — person who is no longer particularly young
  • Polish: mieć swoje lata — person who is no longer particularly young
  • Russian: желторотый юне́ц (želtorotyj junéc) — person who is no longer particularly young
  • Spanish: talludito — person who is no longer particularly young