chop n.1
1. a blow with the fist, esp. to the face.
| , | ![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn). |
| Lex. Balatronicum. | |
| Reported Safe Arrival 65: That bloke’s arskin’ fer a chop rahnd the ear’oles. |
2. (UK Und.) a bargain based on exchange of goods.
| Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack 141: We came to terms for another ‘chop’. |
3. (orig. Aus.) a share, portion [chop v.5 ].
![[Scot]](/static/img/flags/sco.png "Scotland") | Carrying On 176: You shall have first chop at the Victoria crosses. | |
![[Aus]](/static/img/flags/aus.png "Australia") | (con. WWI) Gloss. of Sl. [...] in the A.I.F. 1921–1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: chop. Share. ‘To hop in for ones [sic] chop,’ to enter in, in order to secure a priviledge [sic] or benefit. | |
| Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic.) 7 Dec. 4/5: I am having a chop at this witness’. | |
| We Were the Rats 117: I calls round at the drum and gets me chop from them, too. | |
| (con. 1941) Twenty Thousand Thieves 189: If we get our extra beer I bet you hop in for your chop. | |
| Norm and Ahmed (1973) 18: In this world there’s too many blokes getting in for their chop and not worrying about their mates. | |
![[NZ]](/static/img/flags/nz.png "New Zealand") | Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 27/2: chop share or cut. | |
| Bug (Aus.) 28 Jan. 🌐 If the club’s prepared for that big a blowout, it would be selfish of Wendell not to get in for his chop while the money lasts. | |
| Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988]. |
4. (Aus.) money.
| Bulletin (Sydney) 6 Sept. 41/2: I gave them each their chop and beat it for the city. | |
| Real Thing 32: [He] came out with a rather fat wallet. ‘Hello, what have we got here? Some chops?’ he counted out the money. | |
| Goodoo Goodoo 24: Twenty-five grand. That’s a lot of chops. |
5. (orig. US) a cut, usu. in a salary or in a price.
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | Amer. Thes. Sl. | |
| (con. 1941) Gunner 296: It had been raining tails! All afternoon there hadn’t been more than three heads spun [...] ‘What about a bitta chop from you tailies? Come on, ya’ve hada good run.’. | |
 | Chrysler UK Media 18 Oct. 🌐 So keen was he to get into the motor industry that he even took a 50 per cent chop in salary. |
6. (US juv.) an insult, a cruel remark.
| Web of the City (1983) 47: It was the worst. It was a chop low like no other he’d ever heard. | |
| Underground Dict. (1972) 50: chop [...] a.k.a. chop down. n. an insult. |
7. punishment.
| Plender [ebook] Well, I didn’t actually kill her, but [...] I’m for the chop just the same. | |
| 1985 (1980) 168: This bugger’s up for the chop. | |
| Killing Pool 183: Now I know I’m for the chop. ‘I’ve been following different leads, boys. Come on’. |
8. (drugs) the chopping of cocaine into lines.
| Filth 193: He reckons it gives extra quality tae the chop. |
In compounds
(Aus.) a division of criminal plunder, or any accumulation of money.
| Dly Mercury (Mackay, Qld) 29 May 16/1: Thev had a silly argument on Wednesday night, and a fight afterwards. If anyone said it was over a ‘chop-up’ of money he would say it was a lie. | |
| Aus. Worker (Sydney) 29 Aug. 6/6: Workers in the pastoral industry will remember that every known method was used to extort money from them [...] and maybe they may have preferred a chop-up of any cash which they may have had. | |
| ‘Whisper All Aussie Dict.’ in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxiii 4/3: chop: Share of loot, see also corner. ‘How many in the ‘chop-up’?’. |
In phrases
1. to be killed.
| Enemy Coast Ahead (1955) 282: He got the chop. | |
| Great Escape 64: ‘I’d rather be flying again,’ Thompson said dolefully, ‘even if I did get the chop’. | |
| Room at the Top (1959) 162: We noncoms used to say got the chopper. Going for a Burton was journalist’s talk. | |
| Gun in My Hand 150: Got the chop over Cologne, went down in a flamer. | |
| Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 172: I stand to get the chop, doan I? | |
| ‘Yes, the Maternity Unit’ in Liberty Tree 35: Limp king dick has got the chop / but Quim and Bum must slog it out. | |
| Guardian G2 10 Sept. 19: Another bunch of innocents gets the chop. | |
| Kiss Or Kill 87: That’s how alpine climbers get the chop. | |
| Killing Pool 192: I’m getting the chop. What a way to go. Slain. Bled to death on a lonely floor. | |
| (con. 1943) Irish Fandango [ebook] ‘Some of them got the chop, I’ll bet’. |
2. to be dismissed from one’s job, or from a sports team.
| Chancer 139: He hoped to have one last leave in Kashmir before he got the chopper. | |
| Pagan Game (1969) 152: My boy got the chop. | |
| Sopranos 255: [of expulsion from school] They’ll just get suspensions, but us cause there’s alcohol involved we’re for the chop. | |
| Guardian 8 July 11: Mr Gill [...] is known to be a chump, who talks tripe, and may be for the chop. | |
| Indep. Rev. 16 Mar. 11: Gary Davies heard his ‘Bit in the Middle’ was getting the chop. | |
![[SA]](/static/img/flags/sa.png "South Africa") | IOL News (Western Cape) 25 Feb. 🌐 [headline] Prince gets chop. The central Karoo district municipality [...] endorsed the dfismissal of municipal manager Truman Prince. | |
| Sowetan (Johannesburg) 24 June 🌐 Once again motor-mouth Luclay seems to have survived the chop. |
3. to be rejected or dismissed, to have one’s relationship ended.
| It Was An Accident 47: Came out on jam roll, got a nice new gaff courtesy of my mates, got the chop off that Kelly no bad deal. |
1. (also give someone the old chop-chop) to kill or otherwise dispose of a person.
| Among Thieves 473: If he had any brains he would have just shut up and waited for Verdun to give Orninski the old chop-chop and for the intrepid goon to lead the whole pack of rascals out. |
2. to fire from a job.
| Scully 150: That’s what posh people say when they’re going to give you the chop. | |
| Now You Know 18: Want to know who’s for the chop in the Beeb? | |
| (con. 1950s) Slab Boys [film script] 91: The wee guy’s fur the chop ... has to be. | |
| Empty Wigs (t/s) 175: The majority of the farm’s labourers had been given the chop long since. |
3. to destroy, to abandon, to stop, to cut off.
| Sun 28 Dec. 26: His party could be for the chop. |
finished, defeated, made impossible.
| ‘Oh, What a Beautiful Morning’ Steptoe and Son [TV script] That’s my yoga night gone for the chop. |
(Aus.) to seize one’s opportunity.
| Sugar Heaven 261: You’re in a position where you can hop in for your chop. There’s an awful lot of people in this world who have no chop to hop in for. | |
| Downhill Is Easier 89: ‘You’ve got to hop in for your chop,’ Eric pointed out. [...] ‘You’ve got to make hay while the sun shines’. | |
| Ridge & River 212: There’s got to be leaders, so hop in for your chop. Think of the dough and the privileges. | |
| (con. 1940s) Veterans 16: Hop in for your chop. Make ’em give you everything you’re entitled to. | |
| Tiger Country 70: I once saw George ‘hop in for his chop.’ It was at the Royal Hobart Show in 1960. He'd slashed his shin open with an axe in the bush only a week before but still came in to compete . | |
| Fredo Fuss 108: You oughta hop in for your chop, mate. | |
| Ozwords Apr. 2: It is also in First World War Australian military contexts that many Australian idioms are first recorded: his blood’s worth bottling, give it a burl, hop in for one’s chop, come a gutser, rough as bags. |
(Aus./N.Z.) out for oneself, for one’s own profit or advantage.
| Pagan Game (1969) 102: Now there’s a piece if ever I saw one. They tell me Colin Harrington is in for his chop there. | |
| Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 27/2: in for one’s chop selfishly interested in getting one’s share and perhaps more; from the best cut of sheep or beef carcass; eg ‘Any hint of extra profits and Nat’s in for his chop, no worries.’. | |
| Other Side of Paradise 🌐 Just give me three square meals a day and some iron in me forge and I’m as happy as a sandboy. And anyway, once you start splashing money about, every man and dog wants to get in for his chop. | |
| Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988]. |