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chop
What am I, chopped liver?
A semi-serious expression of frustration, anger, or indignation at having been overlooked and/or regarded as inferior. The phrase likely originated as a part of Jewish humor, referring to the serving of chopped liver as a common side dish (thus overlooked in favor of the main course), the taste of which many do not find appealing. A: "Mary is so smart, talented, and creative, I wish she were my best friend!" B: "And what am I then, chopped liver?" They said they wanted to hire someone else for the job. What am I, chopped liver?
chop logic
To argue in a tedious or pedantic way. I can't stand the way he chops logic! You can't have a conversation without him turning it into some tiresome fight!
pork chop
1. A thick cut of meat from a pig. Often used in the plural when it is prepared as a meal. Well, at least sit down and have a pork chop with us before you go out! Mom said that she's making pork chops for dinner tonight, so don't be late!
2. offensive slang A black person who acts submissively toward white people.
chop someone off
Fig. to stop someone in the middle of a sentence or speech. (Abruptly, as if actually chopping or cutting.) I'm not finished. Don't chop me off! The moderator chopped off the speaker.
chop (someone or something) (up) (into something)
to cut something up into something smaller, perhaps with an axe or a cleaver. The butcher chopped up the beef loin into small fillets. I chopped up the onion into little pieces.
chop something back
to prune vegetation; to reduce the size of plants by cutting. Why don't you chop those bushes back while you have the shears out? Chop back the bushes, please.
chop something down
1. Lit. to cut down something, such as a tree, with an ax. Please don't chop my favorite tree down. Don't chop down this tree!
2. Fig. to destroy something, such as a plan or an idea. The committee chopped the idea down in its early stages. They chopped down a great idea!
chop something off (of) something
and chop something offto cut something off something, as with an axe or saw. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) We chopped the dead branches off the tree. You should chop off the other branch.
chop and change
(British & Australian) to keep changing what you do or what you plan to do, often in a way that is confusing and annoying for other people After six months of chopping and changing, we've decided to go back to our old system.
Chop chop!
(British & Australian informal) something that you say in order to tell someone to hurry Come on, chop chop, up to bed!
get the chop
also be given the chop1. (British informal) if a person gets the chop, they lose their job Anyone who argued with the foreman was liable to be given the chop.
2. (British informal) if a plan or a service gets the chop, it is stopped Our local bus service got the chop, so I have to walk to work or use the car.
chop off
v. To cut something short by or as if by chopping; curtail something: The barber chopped my ponytail off. The butcher chopped off a hunk of meat for me.
chop out
v. To remove something by chopping or cutting; excise something: I chopped out a big piece of wood from the log. The editor always chops all the jokes out of the manuscripts.
chop up
v.1. To cut something into small pieces with a sharp tool: The cook chopped up the parsley. I chopped an onion up and added it to the soup.
2. To divide something into smaller segments: The editor chopped the manuscript up into distinct chapters. I chopped up the long drive by making frequent stops.
chop
n. a rude remark; a cutting remark. That was a rotten chop! Take it back!
chopped liver
n. someone or something worthless. And who am I? Chopped liver?
chop-shop
n. a place where stolen cars are cut or broken up into car parts for resale. The state is cracking down on these chop-shops.
on the chopping block
mod. in serious and threatening straits. Until this is resolved, our necks are on the chopping block.