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Chip on One's Shoulder

What Does "Chip on One's Shoulder" Mean?

homeidiomsChip on One's Shoulder
"Chip on one's shoulder" is an English idiom. It means "having an aggressive attitude due to a past insult or injury."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "chip on one's shoulder" used in a sentence:
  • Why does he always have such a chip on his shoulder?
  • She has had a chip on her shoulder since she wasn't promoted.
  • Having a chip on his shoulder makes it hard for him to make friends.
meaning for chip on one's shoulder

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Chip on One's Shoulder" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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