Expression idiomatique en anglais : a chip on the shoulder

chip on your shoulder

• Definition: When someone is upset about something that happened a while ago.
• Example: “He has a chip on his shoulder from years of being bullied as a kid.”

Source: https://blog.udemy.com/idioms-and-their-meanings/

chip on his/her shoulder

Meaning:

• holding a grudge or grievance
• a perceived sense of inferiority
• being angry because of something that happened in the past
• habitually combative attitude
• take offence easily

Example:

1. He’s always picking up fights with everyone. He seems to have a chip on his shoulder.
2. He has a chip on his shoulder for not being born into a rich family.
3. He has a chip on his shoulder for not being invited to the party.
4. Why do you get so aggressive at the slightest hint of criticism? You seem to have a chip on your shoulder.
5. She has a chip on her shoulder about not getting admission into that university.

Origin:
This phrase originated in the USA in the 1800s. It refers to a practice where people who were looking for a physical fight would place a chip of wood on their shoulders, challenging others to knock it off.

Source: http://idioms.in/chip-on-shoulder/

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