spring chicken: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
commoninformal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “spring chicken” mean?
A young chicken, especially one born in the spring.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A young chicken, especially one born in the spring.
A young and inexperienced person, often used in the negative phrase 'no spring chicken' to indicate someone is not young or is past their youth.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal; both varieties use the idiom similarly in meaning and frequency.
Connotations
Slightly humorous or light-hearted, often to soften references to aging.
Frequency
Equally common in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “spring chicken” in a Sentence
NP be no spring chickenConsider NP a spring chickenVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spring chicken” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- At her age, she's no spring chicken, but she still enjoys hiking.
American English
- He's no spring chicken, yet he plays basketball every weekend.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; inappropriate in formal contexts.
Academic
Not used; too informal for academic writing.
Everyday
Common in casual conversation, especially among older speakers.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spring chicken”
- Using 'spring chicken' positively without 'no', e.g., 'He is a spring chicken' (may be misinterpreted).
- Misapplying it to objects or non-human entities.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely; in modern English, it is almost exclusively idiomatic, referring to a young person.
Yes, it is gender-neutral, though historically it sometimes referred specifically to young women.
It derives from the literal meaning of a young chicken born in spring, which was considered tender and desirable, metaphorically extended to youth.
It is informal and best used in casual speech; avoid it in formal or professional writing.
A young chicken, especially one born in the spring.
Spring chicken: in British English it is pronounced /sprɪŋ ˈtʃɪkɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /sprɪŋ ˈtʃɪkən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “no spring chicken”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a chicken born in spring—fresh and young—to remember it means a young person.
Conceptual Metaphor
YOUTH IS SPRING; INEXPERIENCE IS YOUTH
Practice
Quiz
What does 'no spring chicken' typically express?