CHIP ON (ONE’S) SHOULDER, CLAM UP, CLEAN SLATE [WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN]: American English Idioms #41

CHIP ON (ONE’S) SHOULDER

A chip on one’s shoulder is an expression for perceived or imaginary insult, often seen as the result of a person’s own insecurity. The term comes from the military metaphor meaning to carry (and protect) one’s weapon (the shoulder) higher than usual because of the feeling that one needs to be ready to fight at any time.

In social psychology, a chip on one’s shoulder is a chronic feeling of resentment towards a person who the subject feels has wronged him or her. The term can also describe a general irritable state of mind.

A chip on one’s shoulder is a metaphor for a grudge that someone carries with them. It may come from the military, where it could refer to an injured soldier who has been given a “chip” of wood as a sign that they are not able to fight in battle until they have healed. The term can also be used figuratively to refer to someone who always feels wronged and hostile.

A chip on one’s shoulder is when an individual has an attitude of superiority due to feeling like they are better than someone else because they possess certain traits. The concept stems from the traditional use of mallet to remove the wooden chip that often falls out of lumber.

A chip on one’s shoulder can be defined as when an individual has an attitude of superiority because they believe they are better than someone else by virtue of their possession of certain traits.

CLAM UP

Some people use this phrase to express the feeling of someone who is not speaking or making any noise. This can be because they are nervous or shy but it can also be because they do not want to talk about something.

This is often used in the sense that someone who has previously made a lot of noise or exhibited some kind of emotion becomes silent, but it can also refer to someone using less of an accent. It is most often used in the second sense, for example when trying to be more understated in order to fit in better with the dominant culture or when applying for jobs.

Clamming up is when someone does not say anything despite being able to do so, this is why it is called “clamming up”. This may be because of embarrassment or an unwillingness to share information. The best way to combat this issue is to either take a deep breath and remind yourself that you are safe, create an introduction for yourself at the time, or to ask for help with your silence.

To clam up means to shut up and stop talking. This may be a result of being nervous or scared, or even an attempt to hide information from another person. For instance, if someone is being interrogated by a detective, he or she may try to clam up in order to get out of trouble. Clamming up can also happen when one feels intimidated by the other person and does not want to share information with them.

CLEAN SLATE [WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN]

To wipe the slate clean, one must use a wet rag or towel to quickly and effectively remove any items from the surface. It can also be used as a metaphor for someone who has completely reformed their past and is now on their way of living a more virtuous life.

Wiping the slate clean is a metaphor that means starting afresh. The phrase comes from the use of slates to write on. After they were used, children would erase their writing by rubbing it clean with a piece of cloth or brick.

Wiping the slate clean is a metaphor for forgetting about a troublesome issue and moving forward as if it never existed. In other words, wiping the slate clean might be seen as one way to address issues that linger from the past or from some other time period. For example, someone might decide to wipe the slate clean of their criminal record by expunging it from public records.

A clean slate is an entity that is cleared of records or debts, so people can start anew, but this is also used to refer to forgiving someone at the end of an argument. A clean slate typically only occurs when records are deleted or debts are paid. For example, if I owed you $20 and I gave you $40 instead, my account would be wiped clear.