What Does It Mean to Call Someone “Chopped Liver?”
Chopped liver is someone unimportant, insignificant, trivial, worthless, unappealing; easy to ignore.
Chopped liver is more often used as part of the fuller phrase from Jewish humor, “What am I, chopped liver?” It is used as a semi-joking expression of anger, frustration, or indignation at being ignored or overlooked for someone else.
Chopped liver is also sometimes used in phrases such as “I’m going to make chopped liver out of you,” meaning ‘I’m going to beat you up (or worse).’
The phrases, “What am I, a ghost/invisible?” are sometimes used as variations on this idiom.
Sentence Examples
“Peter was a big help moving all my furniture.” “And what am I, chopped liver?”
“I’m tired of being treated like chopped liver around here. I think I’ll go somewhere I’m appreciated.”
“I just need someone to talk to right now.” “Well, what am I, chopped liver? I’m talking to you.”
“You look beautiful.” “What am l, chopped liver?” “Actually, yeah.” — Stuck on You (2003)
“Will you talk to me? What am l, chopped liver?” — Innerspace (1987)
“It’s the right thing to do.” “And that’s not chopped liver, right?” “Nuh-uh.” — New York, I Love You (2009)
“Mr. Bartholomew, I’m catching the next plane out of here. I’m not going to sit around for somebody to make chopped liver out of me.” — Charade (1963)
Origin of “Chopped Liver” Idiom
Chopped liver is a common Jewish dish often found in delicatessens, consisting of chopped liver and onions traditionally cooked in schmaltz, or chicken fat. While chopped liver can be very savory and rich, it is not always appreciated by everyone and can be bland, depending on who cooked it. It is often claimed that, either because it is a dish that is not always appreciated by everyone, or because it is often served as side dish rather than a main course, the expression ‘what am I, chopped liver’ came about.
Chopped liver has long been used by Jewish people when they are looking for something to compare something to but are at a loss for what to use, so they say ‘chopped liver.’ For example, “Wow, this car is nice!” “What did you think it was, chopped liver?” It is usually used as part of a complaint or a sarcastic remark.
Similar Idioms and Related Expressions
Part of the Furniture: a person who has been in a place so long that he or she seems to be a permanent part of the scenery and is taken for granted.
Part of the Scenery: someone who is always around but ignored; someone whose presence is taken for granted.
Red-headed Stepchild: a person who is not accepted or wanted; someone neglected or treated poorly.
Second-class Citizen: someone who is not given the same rights as other people; someone treated as inferior or not belonging to a group.
Poor relation: Something or someone who similar to others in a group but considered than another thing or person; someone or something not considered to have equal value.
Seen as Invisible (feeling invisible): to feel as if one is completely ignored, overlooked by others; t feel like one’s presence is not noticed.
Black Sheep: Usually applied to a family group, the “black sheet of the family” is the person who is considered disappointing or to bring shame and disgrace upon family.
Odd Man Out: Someone who doesn’t fit in or is not included in a certain social situation or group dynamic.
Left Out in the Cold: to be neglected, ignored, or forgotten; not allowed to be part of something.
Scapegoat: someone publicly blamed for something they didn’t do in order to deflect attention away from the guilty party.
A Nobody: an insignificant, ordinary person; unremarkable; not likely to attract attention or achieve anything great.