• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Language / Where does the phrase “a chip on one’s shoulder” come from and What does it mean?

Where does the phrase “a chip on one’s shoulder” come from and What does it mean?

July 2, 2020 by Karen Hill

The expression, often in the form, “carrying a chip on his shoulder,” is of American origin.

It is used to describe a person who assumes an air of defiance or a truculent attitude, as if daring an adversary to strike the first blow.

One cannot say when the saying originated; all we know is that it had become commonplace more than a century ago. Possibly there was a connection between the chip that one dared another to knock off his shoulder and the chip of the ancient proverb, “Hew not too high lest chips fall in thine eye.”

By the late sixteenth century this admonition against peril had become something of a challenge; one who was fearless dared to look high without regard to falling chips.

When transferred to America, this chip, which had become a figurative term for consequences, may have again become a real chip placed at the height of one’s shoulder to warn an adversary against “hewing too high.”

Related Facts

  • Where does the phrase "to come to the end of one's rope" come from and What does it mean?
  • What does the phrase "come hell or high water" mean and Where does it come from?
  • What Does the Expression "Until the Cows Come Home" Mean and Where Did the Phrase Come From?
  • Where does the phrase "touch and go" come from and What does touch and go mean?
  • Where does the phrase "alpha and omega" come from and What does alpha and omega mean?
  • Where does the phrase "cock and bull story" come from and What does it mean?

Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « Where does the expression “to go the whole hog” come from and What does it mean?
Next Post: Where does the expression “before one can say Jack Robinson” come from and What does it mean? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2021 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy