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chip on one's shoulder

A form of challenge in the same spirit as a medieval knight throwing down his gauntlet.

Etymology:

  • The saying originated during the 19th century in the United States, where people wanting a physical fight would carry a chip of wood on their shoulder, daring others to knock it off. Printed citations of this include the Long Island Telegraph, which on May 20th, 1830, printed:
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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'chip on one's shoulder':

chip on one's shoulderA habitually combative attitude, usually because of a harboured grievance, sense of inferiority, or having something to prove.
chip on one's shoulderA tendency to take offence quickly.
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omzunu kesmek

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to chip on one's shoulder

chip inclear one's lineschange one's tunechip inchip awayChinaman on one's backChip on Your Shoulderchange one's mindchip off the old blockChinaman on one's backchip inchange one's mindclean up one's actclose one's eyes and think of England

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    "chip on one's shoulder." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/chip-on-ones-shoulder_2891>.

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