chop-chop
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See also: chop chop
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Chinese Pidgin English, from Cantonese 速速 (cuk1 cuk1, “quick”). Recorded in English since the 1830s (see citations for adverb). Recorded as a Chinese term in 1795.[1]
Pronunciation
Audio (US): (file) Audio (General Australian): (file)
Interjection
Translations
hurry up
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Adverb
chop-chop (not comparable)
- (derogatory) Quickly.
- 1836 May 18, The Commercial Journal and Advertiser, Sydney, page 4, column 3:
- "Well, more soon, more better; sendee chop chop," I told him.
- 1850, J. Berncastle, A Voyage to China, London: W. Shoberl, page 66:
- "Sam, when you have catchee chow-chow, I want you chop-chop" (quickly).
- 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society, published 2010, page 13:
- ‘And another beer! But cold this time, hear that, boy? Muchee coldee, and bring it chop chop.’
Descendants
- → Portuguese: txapo-txapo, chapo-chapo
Noun
- (Australia, informal) Tobacco that is produced and sold without excise (tax), and therefore cheap and illegal.
- 1944, Australian House of Representatives, Parliamentary Debates, volume 265, page 30968:
- We are here today to try and do the impossible: to stop the chop chop industry.
- 2002 November 11, Major ‘chop chop’ seizure in Northern Queensland, Australian Taxation Office, media release.
- 2007, Martin Hughes, The Slow Guide: Melbourne, unnumbered page:
- Attitudes to tobacco mean it′s virtually sold under the counter (and we′re not talking about ‘chop chop’).
References
- ^ Æneas Anderson. 1795. A Narrative of the British Embassy to China, Basil: J.J. Tourneisen: "Glossary of Chinese Words": Chinese: chop-chop. English: To make haste.