Join In
Twitter
YouTube
Weekly Newsletter
Libraries
A-Z Grammatical Terms
A-Z Confused Words
A-Z Awkward Plurals
Punctuation Lessons
Common Mistakes
(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
for your browser
(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
for your browser
A Chip on Your Shoulder (Origin)
What Is the Origin of the Saying "A Chip on Your Shoulder"?
The term "to have a chip on your shoulder" means being upset about something that happened in the past. More specifically, it means to hold a grudge for a past event or treatment."To have a chip on one's shoulder" originates in the US. It comes from the boyhood practice of spoiling for a fight by carrying a chip of wood on the shoulder and daring others to knock it off. In 1830, New York newspaper "The Long Island Telegraph" printed the following:
- "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."

Competing Theory
The term "to have a chip on your shoulder" comes from the British Royal Dockyards in the 18th century. Back then, ship workers (called shipwrights) were permitted, as a perk of the job, to carry "chips" (pieces of wood for fuel or building) home after work. This perk is recorded in Royal Navy Board standing order dated August 1739:- "Shipwrights to be allowed to bring [chips] on their shoulders near to the dock gates, there to be inspected by officers."
Previous and Next Sayings
Test Your Knowledge of English Proverbs and Idioms
Ready for the Test?
More Proverbs, Sayings, and Idioms
Help Us Improve Grammar Monster
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?
Find Us Quicker!
- When using a search engine (e.g., Google, Bing), you will find Grammar Monster quicker if you add #gm to your search term.
Next lesson >