Chopped liver, gizzard

[asmaaelteify]

Hello,

I came across Chopped Liver and Gizzard in a novel, and I don't know whether the writer uses them literally or metaphorically. Here is the context.


“I didn’t think my boy would ever find himself a decent woman,” said Rhonda. “I suppose he’ll mess it up.”

“‘Decent woman?’ What was I—chopped liver?” sniped

Carlene. “It wasn’t my fault Lester couldn’t see a good thing when it was right in front of his face.”

“Lester always liked liver,” Rhonda snapped back. “You, Carlene, are just a scrawny old chicken gizzard.”


Thank you!

 

[natkretep]

“‘Decent woman?’ What was I—chopped liver?” sniped <-- this is metaphorical

Carlene. “It wasn’t my fault Lester couldn’t see a good thing when it was right in front of his face.”

“Lester always liked liver,” Rhonda snapped back. <-- this is literal, I think

“You, Carlene, are just a scrawny old chicken gizzard.” <-- this is metaphorical

For me, chopped liver is better than chicken gizzard. I don't know that is the sense here.

 

[cidertree]

"What was/am I, chopped liver?" is an idiom. See this thread:

Chopped Liver (#5, #6)

 

[natkretep]

Thanks for that, cidertree. I wasn't aware of that. This is mainly a Jewish or American idiom: What Am I, Chopped Liver? - Phrase Meaning and Idiom Origins

A rhetorical question used by a person who feels they are being given less attention or consideration than someone else.

Rhonda appears to use it as an active metaphor when she describes Carlene as old chicken gizzard. (Is that another side dish? Is the assumption that this is inferior to chopped liver?)

 

[cidertree]

I haven't come across 'old chicken gizzard', but I'd read it as meaning something like 'totally unpalatable' - as you say, worse than chopped liver.

 

[asmaaelteify]

Thank you all. This discussion has been enriching of some sort.

 

[Myridon]

The second time it's just "liver" so we might assume that Lester likes any kind of liver served as food. Chopped liver, calf's liver with onions, fried chicken livers, etc.
Fried chicken livers and fried chicken gizzards can both be had as entrees (main dishes) in the US. Chicken gizzards are, to me, too chewy and don't have much flavor - I don't see the point of fried clams for much the same reason. I imagine the gizzard of an old chicken would be quite tough.