no spring chicken
Not exactly youthful
No spring chicken describes someone who is no longer young.
The phrase comes from poultry farming, where spring chickens—hatched in spring and sold young—were tender and desirable.
Someone who is no spring chicken has aged past their prime: She's no spring chicken, but she can still outrun most of the team.
Often used self-deprecatingly or with affectionate humor rather than as an insult.
Advanced in age
- seniorHigher in rank
- middle-agedIn life's middle decades
- matureFully grown or developed
- grayingLosing color with age
seasoned · weathered · vintage · older · aged · gray-haired · silver-haired · worn
Experienced former soldier
- seasonedFlavored or battle-tested
- worldlyExperienced in practical affairs
- wiseShowing good judgment
- savvyPractical shrewdness
knowledgeable · practiced · skilled · battle-scarred · well-traveled · streetwise · hardened · accomplished
elderly
Advanced in age
- seniorHigher in rank
- middle-agedIn life's middle decades
- matureFully grown or developed
graying · seasoned · weathered · vintage · older · aged · gray-haired · silver-haired · worn
veteran
Experienced former soldier
savvy · knowledgeable · practiced · skilled · battle-scarred · well-traveled · streetwise · hardened · accomplished · mature
creaky
Making strained sounds
worn-out · fading · diminished · rusty · weary
no spring chickenspring chicken
Young, inexperienced person
young · youthful · youngster · wet behind the ears · young blood
no spring chickennewcomer
Recent arrival somewhere
newbie · fresh face · greenhorn · rookie · bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
spring, chicken, springs, sprung, springy, springiness, chickens