chip on one's shoulder
The idiom "chip on one's shoulder" originates from a 19th-century North American custom where a person seeking a fight would place a woodchip on their shoulder, daring others to knock it off.
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Definition
B2General
(informal)A feeling of resentment or anger due to a perceived wrong or injustice.
Example
- Ever since he was passed over for the promotion, he's had a chip on his shoulder.
B2Psychology
(informal)A tendency to be easily offended or defensive because of a past grievance or sense of inferiority.
Example
- She always seems to have a chip on her shoulder, taking even the smallest criticism personally.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "chip on one's shoulder":