English, baby!

chip on his shoulder

Date: Mar 16 2006

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

“He’s bitter, he’s got a chip on his shoulder.”

Matt Dillon, talking about his character in the movie Crash.

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

carrying a grudge; being constantly angry about things that happened in the past

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

In the Oscar-winning movie Crash, Matt Dillon plays a Los Angeles cop with a chip on his shoulder. His character is angry with the world around him and unhappy with his life. He thinks he deserves more than what he has.

Someone with a chip on their shoulder has a grudge against the world. They could be angry about something that happened in the past, or they could feel that the world is against them, that nothing ever goes right for them.

Do you know people who always have a chip on their shoulder? How do you deal with them?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

“He’s got a chip on his shoulder because he lost in the competition last year.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

	angry because of some thing that happened in the past by renwda
	He have heavy stress by Nancy1984
	He feels bitter about something, he's resentful. by Anasita
	a bitter job by luckylynn
	angry by shoalehd
	to be a resentful person for something that happened in the past. by pedorrete
	have something bothering in his mind by vander
	i think the slang of chp on his shoulder is having some trouble with him. by stella_shen
	Dear Madam or Sir: It's just a note to say meaning of next weak's slang. Well I think have a chip on your shoulder( about sth ) ; to be sensitive about sth that happened in the past & become easily offended if it is mentioned because you think that you were treated unfairly thanks reyhaneh by palinahojat
	always looking for a fight, bearing grudges against everyone by Lindsay