English in a Minute: A Chip on Your Shoulder

Welcome to English in a Minute!  This is a chip. Delicious. But why would someone have a chip on their shoulder? A: Dan, do you have any idea why Craig is mad at me?   D: He’s just got a chip on his shoulder. It still bothers him that you got that promotion instead of him.   A: That was months ago! He needs to get over it.   D: I agree.   If someone has a “chip on their shoulder,” they feel angry about a past situation. They hold onto the belief that they were treated unfairly. This makes them generally unpleasant to be around.   And that’s English in a Minute!