What do You Understand by the Phrase ‘to Have A Chip on Your Shoulder’?

To have a chip on your shoulder means to have a willingness to fight; to be in a combative or aggressive mode; to have a tendency to take offense easily.

The chip in this phrase refers not to the potato chips but to a small piece of wood that might have been chopped from a larger block of wood.

This expression comes from about two hundred years ago. An article was published in a magazine in which it was written that a person was prompting others to fight with him. He kept a chip of wood on his shoulder and challenged others to knock it off. If someone successfully knocked it off his shoulder, then they would engage in a fight.

That practice of putting a wooden chip on one’s shoulder showed a willingness to fight, a willingness to be confrontational.

Let’s see an example —

“The student retorted bitterly when the professor admonished him for sleeping in class. He seems to have a chip on his shoulder.”

It means that the student was very offended and talked back to the professor. It appears that he has a combative attitude, or he is easily offended.

I hope you found this story interesting. If you did, buy my full course on Udemy or watch it for free on Skillshare by signing up here. This course covers nearly 380 idioms with their origins and backstories.

Hi, I am Gauri Shanker, a Vocab teacher and enthusiast. I teach vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. You can check out my courses here.