mess of pottage Etymology: Middle English mes of potage; from allusion to Esau's selling of his birthright to his twin brother Jacob for a mess of pottage (Gen 25:29-34) : something valueless or trivial or of inferior value — used especially of something accepted instead of a rightful thing of far greater value < suspense is the mess of pottage for which the Shakespearean birthright has been sold — E.R.Bentley >