food chain

food chain

1. A hierarchy of organisms that transfer food energy between them. The smallest organisms are at the bottom—and they are preyed upon by the larger ones above them in the food chain. Grizzly bears are at the top of the food chain.
2. A hierarchy of people in a group or organization. Often used in the phrases "at the top of the food chain" and "at the bottom of the food chain." As a medical intern, I'm at the bottom of the food chain, but I'll move up soon enough. It will take a while to move up the food chain in such a large company, but you'll make manager soon enough.
See also: chain, food
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • from goo to you, by way of the zoo
  • goo
  • zoo
  • common name
  • at the bottom of the food chain
  • tail wagging the dog
  • tail wagging the dog, the
  • the tail wagging the dog
  • the tail wags the dog
References in periodicals archive
At the very top, the zooplankton of our particular food chain is you--the reader/viewer.
At The Top
In every other science fiction series, humans are at the top of the food chain. In the 'Babylon 5' universe, they're in the bottom third.
Leadership and Business Wisdom - MAKING COST-CONTROL PERMANENT
We also sought to consider the role that body size plays in determining food chain lengths and perhaps even food-web structure.
Revisiting the energetic efficiency hypothesis: body mass, metabolism, and food chain length
In February, the French farm minister said meat from three horse carcasses contaminated with bute had entered the human food chain in France but added there was no public health risk.
Britain's Asda says finds horse drug in corned beef
Indeed it is illegal for horses humanely put down by injection on the racecourse to enter the food chain. We are as confident as we possibly can be that no unfit meat ever reaches the human food chain."
Aintree clarifies link to horse abattoir
Ms Creagh said it was a "very serious development" and demanded action to ensure that "illegal and carcinogenic horse meat stops entering the human food chain".
HORSE MEAT LINK TO CANCER DRUG; Labour MP's fears for food chain
Responding to Ms Creagh's claims, the FSA said: "Horses which have been treated with phenylbutazone or 'bute' are not allowed to enter the food chain.
Horse meat drug linked to cancer 'may be in food chain' MP'S CLAIM FOLLOWS SCANDAL OVER MEAT USED IN BEEFBURGERS
But the FSA admitted five horses tainted with Bute had got into the food chain in France.
Horsemeat row over cancer drug
Because suppliers want the meat fresh it did go into the food chain. We alerted the French."
CANCER-CAUSING DRUG COULD BE IN BURGERS NOW; 'Contaminated batches' fear Action call to protect public
We eat everything in this food chain, except plankton and sunlight.
People depend upon and enjoy our marine waters in many ways
Improving the integrity of the food chain, making certain that food is traceable, safe to eat, high quality and genuine, requires new diagnostic tools, the implementation of novel information systems and input from all food chain participants..
Food Chain Integrity a holistic approach to food traceability safety, quality and authenticity
"Opposite to the cow wallpaper, will be a 'grass wall' which forms a part of the food chain concept, whereby the grass symbolises food for the cows that is then later turned into our food.
Thomas Klein International raises design steaks
The long-lasting chemicals get into the food chain and build up in people's bodies - triggering tumours, heart disease and infertility.
Climate change could give you cancer, claim scientists
MEAT from a total of three offspring of a cloned cow has entered the food chain, the Food Standards Agency said.
Meat from cloned cow's offspring entered food chain