For the birds
Meaning
Something is worthless, absurd, or not worth considering.
Origin
In the bustling kitchens of the early 20th century, any food deemed unfit for human consumption—spoiled, tasteless, or plain undesirable—was unceremoniously discarded, often tossed outside as mere scraps "for the birds." This literal act of throwing away the worthless gave birth to the popular idiom. By the 1920s, the phrase became a common dismissal for anything considered absurd, foolish, or utterly without value. If a newfangled idea or a piece of advice was deemed utterly nonsensical, it was simply "for the birds," implying it was only fit for the lowest creatures and unworthy of human consideration.
Examples
- I think all this talk about alien abductions is for the birds.
- His new business idea, which involved selling personalized rocks, was clearly for the birds.