Chicken Feed – Meaning and Examples
Have you ever been offered a tiny payment for a lot of work—like $5 for helping someone move furniture or $10 for a full day of babysitting? In English, you might call that amount chicken feed! This informal idiom describes a very small sum of money—so small it’s almost not worth mentioning.
What Does “Chicken Feed” Mean?
“Chicken feed” means a trivial or insignificant amount of money. Think of the tiny bits of grain fed to chickens—it’s just enough to keep them pecking, but not enough to fill them up. The phrase isn’t about actual bird food; it’s a lighthearted (and slightly dismissive) way to say, “That’s barely anything.”
When to Use It
Use this phrase in casual conversations with friends, family, or coworkers when talking about small payments, low wages, or unimpressive earnings. It’s common when discussing side gigs, outdated prices, or underpaid work. This idiom is informal and often used with humor or mild frustration—great for everyday chats, not formal writing.
Example Sentences
- They paid me $20 for three hours of work? That’s chicken feed!
- Back in 1950, a dollar was more than chicken feed—but today, it’s nothing.
- Don’t waste your time on that job. The pay is chicken feed.
- He made millions, but to him, $100 is just chicken feed.
Mini Dialogue
Alex: “How much did the app pay you for all those reviews?”
Jamie: “Ten dollars. Total chicken feed.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t use “chicken feed” to describe small non-monetary things (like a little food or time). It only refers to money—and specifically, amounts that feel insultingly low or laughably small.
❌ Don’t say: “I only ate chicken feed for lunch.” (That’s confusing—it sounds literal!)
✅ Do say: “They offered me chicken feed for a week’s work.”
Practice Tip
Next time you hear about a tiny payment—like $3 for an online task—say: “That’s chicken feed!” It’s a natural, vivid way to express that the amount isn’t worth the effort.
Final Note
Now you can use “chicken feed” to talk about small sums of money with color and clarity! It’s a playful but pointed phrase that highlights unfair or laughable pay. Keep using it—and remember, your time and skills are worth more than chicken feed!