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The Oxford English Dictionary 's earliest citation for "Chew the fat" is from 1885 in a book by J Brunlees Patterson called Life in the Ranks of the British Army in India. He implied it was a kind of general grumbling and bending of the ears of junior officers to stave off boredom, a typical part of army life. [8] Patterson also uses "chew the ...
- What Does Chew The Fat Mean?
- Origins of The Idiom Chew The Fat
- Let’s Review
The idiom chew the fat means to converse idly, to make small talk, or to spread gossip. The idiomatic expression chew the fatinvokes the imagery of jaws working furiously in an opening and closing motion and has often been associated with spreading stories about events or other people. For example: 1. We spent a few extra moments just chewing the f...
As you can see in the nGram, the phrase chew the fat wasn’t in general speech or writing before the late 1800s, which completely destroys the most widely spread myth of its inceptions. It likely originated from the more common expression chew the rag, as we explore below through etymological evidence.
Despite the many logical myths surrounding the origins of chew the fat, it is a fairly recent term related to the older phrase, chew the rag, and is related to British military slang meaning to complain or grumble about things. Today it means to sit around and chat, gossip, or complain and is a way to describe the passing of time through conversati...
- English Teacher
Sep 10, 2024 · The Literal Act of Chewing Fat. Originally, ‘Chew the Fat’ meant actually chewing on bits of animal fat. It was a way to get all the nutrients from food. People did this to survive, showing how early speech was tied to direct actions. The Metaphorical Leap to Casual Conversation. Today, ‘Chew the Fat’ means having a long, relaxed chat.
Apr 9, 2022 · The whole purpose of having this event is so that school friends can come together and chew the fat. That is why it is known as a “reunion.” After chewing the fat for about an hour with her, I was able to convince Grandma to go with us. Origin. Chewing the fat is speculated to be something that was done at leisure by the North American Indians.
Origin: The phrase 'chew the fat' is believed to have originated from sailors in the 19th century who would spend long hours at sea. To pass the time, they would engage in casual conversation while chewing on salted pork or beef, which was a staple of their diet. Over time, the phrase evolved to represent any form of leisurely chat.
You can use "Chew the Fat" to describe having a casual and friendly conversation with someone. It implies spending time together, talking about various topics without any specific purpose. For example, if you meet up with a friend and spend hours chatting about different things, you can say, 'We sat on the porch and chewed the fat for hours.'
May 23, 2024 · “Chew the rag” is likewise accounted to sailors or soldiers who would be forced to chew on rags when chewing tobacco was not available. It is suggested that they complained about their deprivation, giving the phrase its original meaning; “chew the fat” has been given a similar explanation.
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