be caught with chaff

be caught with chaff

obsolete To be easily fooled or duped. ("Chaff" is the mass of the worthless husks removed from grain during threshing.) I only listened to that fool because I was caught with chaff back then.

See also: caught, chaff

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

be caught with chaff

be easily deceived.

Chaff is the husks of corn separated from the grain by threshing. Be caught with chaff has been used since the late 15th century as a metaphor for being easily fooled or trapped.

See also: caught, chaff

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017