Chip on Shoulder – Meaning, Origin & Usage
Have you ever heard it said that someone has a “chip” on their shoulder? It’s an idiom, so you can be forgiven if you don’t know what it means.
In this article, we’re going to spell out what the phrase means and do a brief deep dive into its origins. Then we’ll follow that up with how to use the phrase correctly, complete with a few examples of the phrase in use, before rounding off with some similar and alternative phrases.
Let’s get straight to it!
What does the phrase ‘chip on shoulder’ mean?
The phrase ‘chip on one’s shoulder’ means to have a readily provoked anger or resentment, often stemming from a perceived grievance or feeling of being unfairly treated.
Or in other words, someone with a “chip on their shoulder” can be described as someone who is easily offended, quick to take offense, and may seem aggressive due to their perceived mistreatment. It’s essentially like acting like you’re looking for a fight or argument due to a past slight.
The historical origins of the phrase ‘chip on shoulder’
The phrase ‘chip on one’s shoulder’ may date back to the 1800’s. In 1830, the Long Island Telegraph, New York reported that ‘When two churlish boys were determined to fight, a chip would be placed on the shoulder of one, and the other demanded to knock it off at his peril.’
However, it wasn’t until the year 1934 that we have the first recorded use of the phrase ‘chip on one’s shoulder’. That said, the expression is likely to have been in the common vernacular prior to this to refer to someone who is bitter, sullen or angry.
How to use the phrase correctly, with examples
The phrase can be written or spoken as “I have a chip on my shoulder”, “you have a chip on your shoulder” or “he/she/they have a chip on his/her/their shoulder”.
Here are some typical examples of the phrase in use
- She’s not going to make any friends if she walks around with a chip on her shoulder like that.
- Even though he’s a successful business owner, he still has a chip on his shoulder about never getting his university degree.
- Shirley had been passed over for another promotion and had a real chip on her shoulder about it.
Similar and alternative phrases to ‘chip on one’s shoulder’
There are a great deal of alternative words and phrases that can often be used in place of ‘chip on one’s shoulder’. Here’s a selection of examples to peruse:
- Unruly
- Tempestuous
- Litigious
- Contentious
- Cantankerous
- Belligerent
- Turbulent
- Petulant
- Combative
- Fractious
Final word
So, to sum up, the phrase “chip on one’s shoulder” can be used to describe someone who is easily offended, quick to take offense, and may seem aggressive due to some perceived previous mistreatment.
The phrase dates back to 1800’s New York, when cantankerous boys would carry chips to place on their shoulder that they would dare other boys to knock off.
