A: How’s your new job? B: Well, I’ve learned a lot and most people in the office are friendly, but one colleague in particular is awful. He keeps on telling me I didn’t do things right. A: Don’t worry. I think he’s got a chip on his shoulder because you’ve been lucky so far and improved so quickly on the new job. He could just be jealous. Note: A person with a chip on his shoulder is a problem for anybody who must deal with him. He seems to be expecting trouble. Sometimes he seems to be saying, “I’m not happy about anything, but what are you going to do about it?” The phrase reportedly originated with the 19th century U.S. practice of spoiling for a fight by carrying a chip of wood on one’s shoulder, daring others to knock it off. |