"Am I chopped liver?" is an expression used to express frustration or anger at being ignored on a social level. The phrase is often used rhetorically by a person who feels they are being given less attention or consideration than someone else. The origin of the expression is difficult to trace, with many spoken references in older television, comedy, and cinema not written down. One explanation of the expression is that chopped liver was traditionally served as a side dish rather than a main course, so the phrase may have originally expressed a feeling of being overlooked, as a "side dish". Another explanation is that the phrase is used to express hurt and amazement when a person feels they have been overlooked and treated just like a "side dish". The phrase has also been used in show business to refer to a secondary role or treatment.