From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishchaffchaff /tʃɑːf $ tʃæf/ noun [uncountable] 1 TAthe outer seed covers that are separated from grain before it is used as food2 HBBdried grasses and plant stems that are used for food for farm animals → separate the wheat from the chaff at wheat(2)
Examples from the Corpus
chaff• My first job was pulling away colder, and carting chaff.• False scripts were written that disturbed the tabloids' radar like metallic chaff.• He thrust his hand into the stack of chaff up to the elbow without feeling a thing.• A surprising chaff inch flew down to peck at our crumbs.• This would blow the chaff away.• In two rounds of sprinting heats on the previous day, the wheat had been sorted from the chaff.• Conscientious voters will take advantage of every opportunity to sort the electoral wheat from the chaff.• But Pavelic said experienced detectives can quickly separate the wheat from the chaff.Origin chaff Old English ceaf 