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chew the fat. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
chew the fat, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
chew the fat in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
chew the fat you have here. The definition of the word
chew the fat will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
chew the fat, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
One of the possible origins is from the fact that after a meal people would go into their sitting room with their guests and chit chat while chewing on the fat left over from a meal.
Another possibility comes from sailors who often had salted beef and pork on long voyages and the fat would harden. Sailors would eat and complain about the hard life of the sea while "chewing the fat"
Probably just from comparison of the jaw movements in chewing to the jaw movements in talking.
Pronunciation
Verb
chew the fat (third-person singular simple present chews the fat, present participle chewing the fat, simple past and past participle chewed the fat)
- (informal) To chat idly or generally waste time talking.
- Synonyms: chew the rag, shoot the breeze, (vulgar) shoot the shit, shoot the bull, throw the bull
We're not supposed to waste time chewing the fat with the customers.
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