- Idiom – Chop chop
- Meaning – Hurry up! This expression is used to tell someone to hurry, or to do something faster. Do something without delay.
- This is a British English idiom which is also common in Australia.
- This expression originates from the Chinese language. In the Chinese language kuai-kuai means quickly. This phrase was likely distorted by English speakers who worked alongside the Chinese to become chop chop. As a result of seeing Chinese people using a pair of sticks to skillfully and quickly eat, these sticks also became known as chopsticks.
usage of the word chop
idiom – choppy waters
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- Somebody is taking too long to get ready to go out.
- You are in danger of missing a bus or plane because someone is too slow.
- If you are in a rush.
- You are getting impatient waiting for someone to finish something!
Example:
- “Our plane leaves in 20 minutes, chop chop or we’ll miss it!”
Discuss:
- Is there an idiom like this in your country?
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.