you can't catch old birds with chaff
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
The wisest and the most experienced cannot be easily deceived.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “you can't catch old birds with chaff” mean?
The wisest and the most experienced cannot be easily deceived.
Is “you can't catch old birds with chaff” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.