AChiponYourShoulder词汇典故AChiponYourShoulder词汇典故Now,theVOASpecialEnglishprogramWORDSANDTHEIRSTORIES.EveryweekatthistimewetellthestoryofwordsandexpressionsusedinAmericanEnglish.Someofthemareold.Somearenew.Together,theyformthelivingspeechoftheAmericanpeople.Somepopularexpressionsareamystery.Nooneissurehowtheydeveloped.Oneoftheseistheexpression,carryachiponyourshoulder.Apersonwithachiponhisshoulderisaproblemforanybodywhomustdealwithhim.Heseemstobeexpectingtrouble.Sometimesheseemstobesaying,"I'mnothappyaboutanything,butwhatareyougoingtodoaboutit?"Achipisasmallpieceofsomething,likeachipofwood.Howdidthischipgetonaperson'sshoulder?Well,expertssaytheexpressionappearstohavebeenfirstusedintheUnitedStatesmorethanonehundredyearsago.Onewriterbelievesthattheexpressionmighthavecomefromanoldsaying.Thesayingwarnsagainststrikingtoohigh,orachipmightfallintoyoureye.Thatcouldbegoodadvice.Ifyoustrikehighuponatreewithanaxe,thechipofwoodthatiscutoffwillfallintoyoureye.Thesayingbecomesawarningaboutthedangersofattackingpeoplewhoareinmoreimportantpositionsthanyouare.Later,intheUnitedStates,somepeoplewouldputarealchipontheirshoulderasatest.Theywantedtostartafight.Theywouldwaitforsomeonetobebraveenoughtotrytohititoff.ThewordchipappearsinanumberofspecialAmericanexpressions.Anotherischipofftheoldblock.Thismeansthatachildisexactlylikeaparent.Thisexpressiongoesbackatleasttotheearlysixteenhundreds.TheBritishwriterofplays,GeorgeColman,wrotetheselinesinseventeensixty-two."You'llfindhimhisfather'sownson,Ibelieve.Achipofftheoldblock,Ipromiseyou!"Thewordchipcanalsobeusedinathreateningwaytosomeonewhoissuspectedofwrongdoing.Aninvestigatormaysay,"We'regoingtoletthechipsfallwheretheymay."Thismeanstheinvestigationisgoingtobecompleteandhonest.Itisalsoawarningthatnoonewillbeprotectedfrombeingfoundguilty.Chipsareoftenusedincardgames.Theyrepresentmoney.Apokerplayermay,atanytime,decidetoleavethegame.Hewillturninhischipsinexchangeformoneyorcash.Thisleadtoanothermean