chippy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
mediuminformal
Quick answer
What does “chippy” mean?
a fish-and-chip shop.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a fish-and-chip shop
an adjective meaning easily annoyed or irritable; a carpenter; informal term for a potato chip
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'chippy' primarily means 'fish-and-chip shop.' In American English, it's occasionally used to mean 'irritable' or refer to potato chips, but is less common overall.
Connotations
UK: strong working-class/casual food association. US: if used, suggests informal/quirky tone.
Frequency
Very frequent in UK informal speech; low-to-medium in US English.
Grammar
How to Use “chippy” in a Sentence
Let's go to the chippyHe got a bit chippyShe's feeling chippy todayVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chippy” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Don't be so chippy, it was just a joke.
- He has a chippy attitude towards authority.
American English
- The goalie got chippy after the foul.
- Her chippy remarks didn't help the discussion.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not typically used.
Academic
Not typically used.
Everyday
Common in casual conversation about food or mood.
Technical
May appear in carpentry slang for a woodworker.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chippy”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chippy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chippy”
- Using 'chippy' in formal writing.
- Assuming the 'irritable' meaning is common in all dialects.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and primarily used in casual speech.
Yes. As a noun it typically means a fish-and-chip shop. As an adjective it means irritable or easily annoyed.
Yes, but less frequently. They are more likely to use the adjective meaning 'irritable' or in sports contexts meaning 'aggressive'.
It originates from 'chip' (as in potato chip/fry) + '-y'. The 'shop' sense dates to the late 19th/early 20th century.
a fish-and-chip shop.
Chippy: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɪp.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɪp.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “have a chippy on one's shoulder (rare variant of 'chip')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'chips' from a 'chippy' making someone 'chippy' (irritable) if they eat too many.
Conceptual Metaphor
Irritability as having sharp edges (like wood chips).
Practice
Quiz
In British English, what is the most common meaning of 'chippy'?