chop-chop

[chop-chop]

adverb

1. with haste; quickly.

chop chop

adverb

1. pidgin English for quickly See quickly

Word History and Origins

Origin of chop-chop¹

1825–35; repetitive compound based on Chinese Pidgin English chop quick, of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of chop-chop¹

C19: from Chinese dialect; related to Cantonese kap kap

Example Sentences

“But I am on a tight schedule, so we must ‘chop-chop,’ as they say.”

Read more on Literature

“The book! Where are Anansi’s stories? We should get started right away. Preparations need to begin, no time to waste, chop-chop.”

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Some of the words now included in the OED, for example "sef", "chop-chop" and "gist", have derived their meaning from the way that Pidgin speakers use them.

Read more on BBC

He does screenplays at the same chop-chop pace.

Read more on The Guardian

In four or five chop-chop years, the mill town became “The Shingle Capital of the World,” and more often than not, it smelled like cedar.

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

• expeditiously 
• hastily 
• hurriedly www.thesaurus.com
• immediately 
• instantaneously www.thesaurus.com
• instantly 
• promptly 
• rapidly 
• speedily www.thesaurus.com
• swiftly