Idiom
chip on one's shoulder
Meaning
A habitually combative attitude, usually because of a harbored grievance, a sense of inferiority, or a desire to prove something.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“He always acts angry because he has a chip on his shoulder.”
“You have a chip on your shoulder whenever we talk about your old job.”
“Ever since he was passed over for the promotion, he has had a chip on his shoulder and argues with everyone.”
“She grew up in a poor neighborhood and still has a chip on her shoulder when she talks to people from wealthy families.”
“Despite his undeniable success in the industry, he carried a chip on his shoulder that made him interpret every piece of constructive criticism as a personal attack.”
Examples
simple
“He always acts angry because he has a chip on his shoulder.”
“You have a chip on your shoulder whenever we talk about your old job.”
contextual
“Ever since he was passed over for the promotion, he has had a chip on his shoulder and argues with everyone.”
“She grew up in a poor neighborhood and still has a chip on her shoulder when she talks to people from wealthy families.”
complex
“Despite his undeniable success in the industry, he carried a chip on his shoulder that made him interpret every piece of constructive criticism as a personal attack.”
Origin
Originating in the United States during the 19th century, the phrase records a specific method of soliciting a physical altercation. A man seeking a fight would place a literal chip of wood upon his shoulder and dare an opponent to knock it off. The act of displacing the wood served as a formal acceptance of the challenge, rendering the subsequent violence a matter of mutual agreement.
Key words
Related idioms
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