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Region: General | Usage example: We chewed the fat over coffee after the meeting.

Chew the fat

Meaning

Engage in friendly, informal conversation.

Usage

Used to describe relaxed, meandering talk.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Sailors used to chew salted fat or meat while chatting aboard ships.

Appeared in naval and railroad slang in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Related Idioms

Bite off more than you can chew

Take on more responsibilities than you can handle.

So mad I could chew nails and spit bullets

Extremely angry, to the point of feeling violent.

Shoot the breeze

Engage in casual conversation.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.