- mess of pottage
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Something of trivial value, especially of immediate value.See Also: sell ones birthright for a mess of pottage
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mess of pottage
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Mess of pottage — The phrase mess of pottage means something of little value, with a pottage being a type of soup. Though it can appear in general use, it is usually associated with the exchange by Esau of his birthright for a meal of lentil stew, as described in… … Wikipedia
mess of pottage — noun anything of trivial value Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a mess of pottage • Hypernyms: ↑value, ↑economic value * * * Etymology: Middle English mes of potage; from allusion to Esau s selling of his birthright to his twin brother Jacob … Useful english dictionary
mess of pottage — чечевичная похлебка … Idioms and examples
sell your birthright for a mess of pottage — If a person sells their birthright for a mess of pottage, they accept some trivial financial or other gain, but lose something much more important. Sell your soul for a mess of pottage is an alternative form … The small dictionary of idiomes
a mess of pottage — something that has little or no value They sold/traded their birthright for a mess of pottage. • • • Main Entry: ↑pottage … Useful english dictionary
sell your birthright for a mess of pottage — If a person sells their birthright for a mess of pottage, they accept some trivial financial or other gain, but lose something much more important. Sell your soul for a mess of pottage is an alternative form. (Dorking School Dictionary) … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
Sell your birthright for a mess of pottage — If a person sells their birthright for a mess of pottage, they accept some trivial financial or other gain, but lose something much more important. Sell your soul for a mess of pottage is an alternative form … Dictionary of English idioms
Mess — (m[e^]s), n. [OE. mes, OF. mets, LL. missum, p. p. of mittere to put, place (e. g., on the table), L. mittere to send. See {Mission}, and cf. {Mass} religious service.] 1. A quantity of food set on a table at one time; provision of food for a… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
sell something for a mess of pottage — sell something for a ridiculously small amount Origin: with biblical allusion to the story of Esau, who sold his birthright for some bread and pottage of lentils (Gen. 25:31) … Useful english dictionary
Mess — For other uses, see Mess (disambiguation). A mess (also called a messdeck aboard ships) is the place where military personnel socialise, eat, and (in some cases) live. In some societies this military usage has extended to other disciplined… … Wikipedia
