"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.
例文
1. It isn 't always easy to separate the wheat from the chaff .
良莠を見分けるのは、必ずしも容易ではありません。
2.An old bird is not to be caught with chaff .
穀物殻に老鳥は捕えられない.
3.Old birds are not to be caught with chaff .
経験者はだまされにくい。
4.Sift out the wheat from the chaff .
小麦の殻をふるい出す.
5.When all the applications came in,our first task was to separate the wheat from the chaff .