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a mess of pottage

noun phrase

Definition of a mess of pottage

old-fashioned
: something that has little or no value
  • They sold/traded their birthright for a mess of pottage.

Word by Word Definitions

mess play

  1. : a quantity of food:

  2. : food set on a table at one time

  3. : a prepared dish of soft food

  1. : to provide with meals at a mess

  2. : to make dirty or untidy : disarrange

  3. : to mix up : bungle

See the full definition of mess
pottage play

  1. : a thick soup of vegetables and often meat

See the full definition of pottage

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