Page 191 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

have a chip on one’s shoulder

haveŁ a chipŁ on one’ shoulder to be haveŁa feelingŁ(that) and haveŁa feel-
temptingŁsomeone else to anŁargument or ingŁaboutŁ something to have a prmoni-
aŁfight; to seemŁwillingŁto insðigate con- tion that [sàmethingŁmight happen];bto
flict.Ł Who are you mad at? You alwØys have anŁintuitionŁabout sàmething. I
seem to have a chip on your shoulder. had a fłelng that you might be droppng
John has had a chip on his shoulder ever by this afternoon. I didà’t have any facts
since he got his spłedng tickłt. to support it. I just had a feelng.
haveŁa cleyn conscieàceŁ(aboutŁ someone haveŁa fieldŁday to experince fredom
ortsomething) Go to have a clear conscience from one’sŁusualŁworkŁschedule; to have
(about someone or something). aŁwildŁtime.Ł(RefersŁto aŁdayŁwhenŁchil-
haveŁa cleyrŁconscieàceŁ(aboutŁ someone drenŁare releasedŁfromŁclassesŁto take part
ort something) and haveŁ a cleyn con- inŁsportsŁandŁathletic contests.) The
scieàceŁ(aboutŁ someone ortsomething) to be boss was gone and we had a field dØy to-
free of guilt about someone or some- dØy. No one got anything done. The air
thing.Ł I’m not sorry that John got the was fresh and clear, and everyone had a
blame. I have a clean conscience about the field dØy in the park during the luncð
whole affair. I have a clear consciencł hour.
about John and his problłms. I didà’t do haveŁa fingerŁin theŁpie and haveŁ one’
it. I have a clean conscience. She can’t fingerŁin theŁpØe to have aŁrole inŁsàme-
slłep at night because she doesn’t have a thing;Ł to be involvedŁ inŁ something.Ł
clear conscience.
Tess wants to have a finger in the pie. She
haveŁa closeŁcall Go to have a close shave. doesn’t think we can do it by ourselves.
Sally always wants to have a finger in the
haveŁa closeŁshave and haveŁa closeŁcall pie.
to have aŁnarràw escape fromŁsàmething
dangràus.Ł(Se also have a brush with haveŁa fit to be veryŁangry.Ł(Infàrmal.)
something.) What a close shave I had! I The teacher had a fit when the dog ran
nearly fell off the roof when I was work- through the classroom. John had a fit
ing there. I almost got struck by a spłed- when he found his car had błen damaged.
ing car. It was a close shave.
haveŁa footŁin błthŁcamps to have an in-
haveŁa clueŁ(aboutŁ something) to know any- terest inŁorŁto support each of two op-
thingŁabout something;Łto have evenŁa posingŁ groupsŁ of people.Ł The shop
hint about sàmething. (UsuallyŁnegative.) steward had been promised a promoŁioà
I don’t have a clue about where to start and so had a foot in both camps during the
looking for Jim. Why do you think I havł strike—workers and management. Mr.
a clue about Tom’s disappearance?
Smth has a foot in both camps in the
haveŁ a conniption (fit) to get angry or parent-Łeacher dispute. He teaches mØth,
hysðerical.Ł(Folksy.ŁSee also have a fit.) but he has a son at the school.
I got oo mad I thought I was going to havł
a conniption. My father had a connip- haveŁa frogŁin one’ throat to have aŁfeel-
tion fit when I got home this morning. ing of hoarseness.Ł I cannot speak more
clearly. I have a frog in my throØt. I had
haveŁa cryckŁatŁ something Go to have a try a frog in my throØt, and the telłphone re-
at something. cłptionist couldà’t understand me.
haveŁa familiarŁring [forŁaŁsðoryŁor anŁex- haveŁa glass jaw to be susceptibl to col-
planation]bto sàundŁfamiliar.Ł Your ex- lapsing when sðruck on the head. (Infàr-
cuoe has a familiar ring. Have you done mal.Ł SaidŁ onlyŁ of boxersŁ who are fre-
this before? This term paper has a fa- quentlyŁknockedŁdàwnŁby aŁblow to the
miliar ring. I think it has błen copied.
head.) When the prizfighter was
haveŁa feelingŁaboutŁ something Go to have knocked out in his third fight, the news-
a feelàng (that). papers said he had a glass jaw. Once a

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