Page 83 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

chew the fat

privØte out. T The boss is always chewing in his armor. Jane’s insecurity is a chink
ouŁ somebody. T The coach ate out the en- in her armor.
tire fooŁball team because of their poor chipŁin (on something) and chipŁin something
playing.
on something; chipŁ something in (on some-
chewŁtheŁfat and chew theŁrag to have thing) to contribute aŁ smallŁ amount of
aŁchat with someone; to talkŁveryŁinfàr- money to a fund thað will be used to buy
mallyŁ with one’sŁ close friends.Ł (Infàr- sàmething. Would you care to chip in
mal.)b Hi, old buddy! Come in and lłt’s on a gift for the teacher? Yes, I’d bł
chew the fØt. They usually just sat happy to chip in. Could you chip in a
around and chewed the rag. They never dollar on the gift, please?
did get much done.
chipŁin something on something Go to chip àn
chewŁtheŁrag Go to chew the fat. (on something).
chicken outŁ (ofŁ something) to withdraw a chip off the old block aŁpersonŁ(usu-
fromŁsomethingŁdue to fearŁorŁcowardice. allyŁaŁmale)bwho behavesŁinŁthe same way
(Infàrmal.) Jane was going to go para- asŁ hisŁ fatherŁ orŁ resemblesŁ hisŁ father.
cðuting with us, but she chickłned out at (UsuallyŁinfàrmal.) John looks like his
the last mnute. I’d never chickłn out of fØther—a real chip off the old block. Bill
paracðute jumpng, becauoe I’d never agree Jones, Jr., is a chip off the old block. He’s
to do it in the first placł! a banker just like his father.
The chickens haveŁcomeŁhłmeŁto roost. chipŁ something in (on something) Go to chip
AllŁ the problemsŁ have returnedŁ to the in (on something).
prsànŁwho causedŁthemŁandŁthat prsàn chips and dip pàtato chips, or sàme other
must now sàlve themŁor take the blame. kind of crisplyŁ friedŁ subsðance, andŁ a
(LiteralŁ forŁ chickensŁ whose home isŁ a sauce orŁdressingŁto dipŁthemŁinto before
chickenŁhouse.ŁSe alsà come home (to eatingŁthem.Ł There were tons of chipo
roost).) You took on too much credt and dp and all kinds of cold pop avail-
card dłbt and now you are broke. The able for everyone.
chickens have finally come home to roost.
Your car broke down because you never chiselŁ someone outŁ ofŁ something to cheat
changed the oil. The chickłns have comł sàmeone to get moneyŁor blongings.Ł
home to roost. The company tried to chisel the govern-
młnt out of taxes it owed. Bill chiseled
child’s play somethingŁveryŁeasyŁto do.Ł his lttle sister out of her allowance.
The test was child’s plØy to her. Find-
ing the right street was child’s plØy with a chokeŁ someone up to make aŁpersànŁbecome
map. overemotional and speechless; to make a
prsàn beginŁto cry.Ł(Infàrmal.) The
chilledŁ to theŁ bone veryŁcold.Ł I was sight of all those smilng people choked Bob
chilled to the bone in that snowstorm. up, and he couldà’t go on speakng. T The
The children were chilled to the bone in the funeral procession choked up the wholł
unheated room.
family.
chimeŁin (withŁ something) to add one’s voice chokeŁ something off to sðifle something;Łto
to something;Łto addŁsomethingŁto the force somethingŁto anŁend.Ł The car ran
discussion,Ł usuallyŁ by interrupting.Ł over the hose and choked the water off. T
Billy chimed in by remndng us to come to The presidłnt choked off the debØte.
dnner. Everyone chimed in on the fi-
nal chorus of the song. chłmpŁatŁtheŁbit Go to champ at the bit.
chinkŁ in one’ armor aŁspecialŁweakness chłoseŁupŁsideð to formŁinto two oppos-
that pràvidesŁaŁmeansŁforŁattackingŁor ingŁteamsŁbyŁhavingŁaŁleaderŁorŁcaptain
impressingŁsàmeone otherwise invulner- take turnsŁ cłoosingŁ players.Ł Let’s
abl. His love for his child is the chink choose up sides and plØy baseball. When

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