Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US, also bid chin-chin, chin-chin) to chatter, to talk to/with; thus chinning n., idle conversation, chatter [chin n.² (1)].

1858		Cork Examiner 12 Apr. 2/6: We join a respectable-looking set and ‘chin-chin’ over small cups of tea.
1876		Santa Cruz 28 July 1/5: ‘Shoot the chinning,’ cried the President, ‘Will you never tumble?’ [DA].
1881		Bulletin (Sydney) 9 July 9/1: We looked in to bid Dominic Sonsee, Esquire, chin-chin one day last week.
1883		J. Hay Bread-Winners (1884) 161: You haven’t done a — thing but lay around on the grass and eat peanuts and hear Bott chin.
1896		Ade Artie (1963) 35: He turned around sideways in his seat and begins chinnin’ her.
1899		‘Pot’ & ‘Swears’ Scarlet City 190: We’ll chin-chin over what’s to be done.
1901		‘Hugh McHugh’ John Henry 65: From the moment you reach for your cue the sofa-pounders cut loose and chin you to a call-down.
1903		Ade ‘Cupid in Buttons’ in In Babel 180: He walked over to the sofa an’ started in to chin that thin Morrison girl that wears the glasses.
1904		Harrington & LeBrunn [perf. Vesta Tilley] I want to have a Chinese Honeymoon 🎵 And when he started grinning, she longed to hear him ‘'chinning’.
1905		Sun. Times (Perth) 3 Dec. 4/7: ’Twas Mulga Mick from Mertondale who on his boot-heels sat / And chinned on things in general, and as to this and that.
1906		S. Ford Shorty McCabe 228: We chins awhile there, and the Bishop tells me how’s he been out to lay a cornerstone,.
1911		E. Dyson ‘Barracking’ in Benno and Some of the Push 141: His chinnin’ aboard the train was th’ chatter iv th’ man what ain’t mistaken, ... ‘n’ never will be.
1913		H. Green ‘Troubles of Two Girls’ in S.F. Chron. 8 June 31/1: I was chinnin’ with the key clerk this morning.
1920		R. Lardner Big Town 162: After supper we’d set round and chin or play rummy.
1929		W.R. Burnett Little Caesar (1932) 223: I got business or I’d stick around and chin with you.
1930		E. Glyn Flirt & Flapper 8: Gee! It’s queer to sit and chin with a picture.
1933		C. Drew ‘Gorilla Grogan’ in Bulletin (Sydney) 26 July 40/2: Leavin’ Gorilla to chin to the barman, I waltzed across to Snatcher.
1938		W. Winchell On Broadway 27 Oct. [synd. col.] Katherine Hepburn, the attractive icicle, in the Waldorf foyer, chinning with Sam Goldwyn.
1941		E. Knight Lassie Come-Home 81: I saw it twa days back when I were up chinnin’ to McWheen.
1947		Chicago Sun 4 June 16: Let’s go to the coffee joint and chin-chin! [DA].
1955		‘Blackie’ Audett Rap Sheet 112: I would drop out and chin with him every day or two.
1959		A. Sillitoe ‘The Fishing-Boat Picture’ Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner (1960) 81: I could have got it for less, but I’d rather pay an extra bob than go through five minutes of chinning.
1962		Ragen & Finston World’s Toughest Prison 794: chin – To talk.
1983		S. King Christine 12: Nice chinning with you boys. So long.
1999		Observer Rev. 27 June 11: He’s just dealing with the stress of the talk-show host he produces chinning a guest.

2. (orig. Glasgow) to hit someone (on the chin).

1830		N. Ames Mariner’s Sketches 93: On certain days the Chinese ‘chin-chin’ for Josh [i.e Joss] as they call it, which is the nearest approach to worship I ever saw.
1891		Comet (Johnson City, TN) 18 June 2/6: I got fined seven dollars for chinnin’ a cop who had collared my brother.
1934		P. Allingham Cheapjack 59: I was having a bit of a barney with a gorgie there, when he ups and calls me a bastard. Of course I chinned him.
1934		C. Drew ‘The Unbeliever’ in Bulletin (Sydney) 13 June 50/1: [T]he drawcard was a heavy- weight we had christened Slugger Ryan after a scrapper who was makin’ a name for himself chinnin’ all-comers.
1943		R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 100: I had to chin her.
1959		I. & P. Opie Lore and Lang. of Schoolchildren (1977) 216: I’ll chin you.
1963		N. Dunn Up the Junction 88: I’m in trouble, I hit a policeman – chinned him.
1974		G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 171: The cab fare the driver was striping him for, brought him up with a jolt. Briefly he considered the driver, debating whether to drag him from his cab and chin him, or settle the fare.
1982		J. Sullivan ‘The Long Legs of the Law’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] I’ll chin you, I will.
1999		Metro 3 Aug. 3: Des often looked ready to chin him.
2004		N. ‘Razor’ Smith A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 116: Johnny chinned him, and the fight was on.
2010		N. Bradley ‘Blind Old Kate’ 🌐 When the bloke replied, ‘p yours...’ Alf chinned him.
2021		P Howard Braywatch 17: I’d love to deck him [...] chinning the focker.

3. (US) to eat.

1916

A. Baer Rabid Rudolph 4 Dec. [synd. col.] He gobbles up the All-American stuff like a mouse chinning cheese.