have a chip on one's shoulder
idiom
informal
: to have an angry or unpleasant attitude or way of behaving caused by a belief that one has been treated unfairly in the past
He has had a chip on his shoulder ever since he didn't get the promotion he was expecting.
Cite this Entry
“Have a chip on one's shoulder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%20a%20chip%20on%20one%27s%20shoulder. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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