"husks," Old English ceaf "chaff," probably from Proto-Germanic *kaf- "to gnaw, chew" (cognates: Middle Dutch and Dutch kaf, German Kaff), from PIE root *gep(h)- "jaw, mouth" (see jowl (n.1)). Used figuratively for "worthless material" from late 14c.
实用例句
1. It isn't always easy to separate the wheat from the chaff.
分清良莠并不总是很容易。
来自柯林斯例句
2. An old bird is not to be caught with chaff.
谷壳捉不到老鸟.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. Old birds are not to be caught with chaff.
有经验的人不易受骗上当.
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
4. Sift out the wheat from the chaff.
把小麦的壳筛出来.
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
5. When all the applications came in, our first task was to separate the wheat from the chaff.