I’m pretty sure that when you are egging on a friend who’s competing, or planning a hen party, or feeling cooped up when you can’t go outside—that you’re not thinking about chickens. But the reality is that our lives are full of chicken related slang and sayings. Out of curiosity, I started collecting sayings that involve chickens. When I got past 50, I stopped. I had no idea chickens were so much a part of our everyday speech. think about the times have you told someone not to count their chickens before they hatch, or heard someone comment about a person that “she’s no spring chicken?” Or called someone a “Good egg?“
Husbands are called henpecked. Overly solicitous women are referred to as a Mother Hen. I could go on and on. But just for fun, I’ve listed some of the most popular ones, which you will undoubtedly recognize from your vocabulary. If you think of more, let me know. I’m keeping a list.
Nest egg
Walking on eggshells
Egging on
Chickening out
Madder than a wet hen
Ruffling feathers
Pecking order
Good egg
Scratching out a living
Egg on your face
Hen party
Cooped up
Empty nest
Flew the coop
Rule the roost
Feather one’s nest
Dumb cluck
Rubber chicken circuit