idiom
have a chip on your shoulder
HAV ah CHIP on yor SHOHL-der
hæv ə tʃɪp ɒn jɔːr ˈʃoʊldərListen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
haveachiponyourshoulder
Dictionary meaning
To be resentful or aggressive because of a perceived grievance, inferiority, or past injustice; to carry a sense of grievance.
History and origin
From 19th-century American practice of challenging someone to a fight by placing a chip of wood on one's shoulder and daring another to knock it off.
Examples
- He's had a chip on his shoulder ever since he was passed over for promotion.
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