chops
- 01 A2 Elementary
small pieces of meat, usually including a bone, from a sheep or pig.
plural of 'chop'; small cuts of meat, typically from the rib, loin, or shoulder of a pig, lamb, or calf.
Simple“We had grilled lamb chops with vegetables for dinner last night.”
In context“The chef seasoned the pork chops with a blend of sage and rosemary before searing them to a perfect golden brown.”
Synonymscutletssteaks - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a person's ability or skill in a particular activity, especially music.
technical proficiency or competence in a specific field, originally referring to a musician's embouchure or dexterity.
Simple“The new drummer really has the chops to play with such a famous band.”
In context“While he lacked formal training, his natural improvisational chops allowed him to hold his own against veteran jazz performers.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
a person's mouth, lips, or jaws.
the mouth, jaws, or fleshy parts of the face; often used in the context of eating or speaking.
Simple“He was licking his chops as he looked at the delicious chocolate cake.”
In context“The boxer took a heavy blow to the chops but managed to stay on his feet until the bell rang.”
UsageCommonly found in the idiom 'licking one's chops' to show anticipation.
- 04 C2 Proficiency
an area of the sea where the water is very rough and moving in different directions.
a stretch of water where meeting tides or winds create a short, irregular, and broken sea state.
Simple“The small boat struggled to stay steady in the heavy chops near the harbour entrance.”
In context“Navigating the channel required immense concentration due to the unpredictable chops caused by the outgoing tide clashing with the gale-force winds.”
SynonymsAntonyms
From the plural of chop (“jaw, side of a harbour”). The jazz slang sense “musical ability” is a reference to the use of the lips to blow instruments.
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.