I'm too old a bird to be caught by chaff.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

Experience can help a person recognise an unconvincing lure. The speaker claims they have seen enough to avoid being taken in by this particular trick.

What the words are saying

The old bird is offered chaff as though it were attractive bait, but the speaker refuses the attempted deception. The image presents accumulated experience as a reason to recognise an offer that does not deliver what it promises. It can be a playful reply to an obvious trick or a firmer refusal of manipulation. The age claim belongs to the speaker’s confidence, not a universal rule that older people cannot be deceived. Familiarity with one kind of lure may help, while a different one still calls for scrutiny. Evaluate the offer itself rather than relying entirely on seniority.

Everyday example

A club treasurer rejects a message promising a prize in exchange for urgent payment, saying the familiar lure will not persuade them.

When to use it

Use it as a figurative refusal of a familiar attempt to mislead or entice.

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.