What it means: Someone who has past their prime. Where it comes from: Spring time is the best season for farmers because the birds are chirping, their lambs are leaping and their chickens are laying. Ok, so this happens all year around but this phrase refers to this specific season. Farmers knew that chickens born in the Spring would produce better produce than older chickens who had already survived the Winter. Spring chickens were healthy, fresh and young. But in order to make more of a profit, some farmers would sell older and spring chickens for the same price, often trying to pass the older chickens as younger ones. However, wise men would notice the difference and exclaim "that's no spring chicken!" and then walk away in utter disgust at the deceitful farmer.* *May or may not have been dramatised.
