# up with the chickens

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/up-with-the-chickens
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Awake and out of bed early in the morning.

## Examples

- Farmers are usually up with the chickens.
- I have a long drive ahead tomorrow, so I need to be up with the chickens.
- Determined to finish the harvest before the storm arrived, the workers were up with the chickens, laboring under the pale light of dawn.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.