chicken feed

noun

slang
: a paltry sum (as in profits or wages)

Examples of chicken feed in a Sentence

The project cost almost a million dollars, which isn't exactly chicken feed. Ten bucks? That's chicken feed!
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Its profits are often influenced by avian flu and by corn (chicken feed) prices. John Dorfman, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024 The company also refined its vaccine regimen, and adjusted its chicken feed by adding probiotics and removing animal byproducts, which can irritate the birds’ guts, among other changes. Kenny Torrella, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 From there, it will be taken to one of Mill’s partner farms, where your food scraps will go on to become chicken feed. Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 27 Nov. 2024 The price of chicken feed — which represents 70% of a farmer’s costs — has fallen significantly after doubling between 2020 and 2022, Hart said. Mark Vancleave, Fortune, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for chicken feed 

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chicken feed was in 1834

Dictionary Entries Near chicken feed

Cite this Entry

“Chicken feed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chicken%20feed. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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