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Synonyms

chops

British  
/ tʃɒps /

plural noun

  1. the jaws or cheeks; jowls

  2. the mouth

  3. slang

    1. music embouchure

    2. jazz skill

  4. informal to anticipate with pleasure

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
chops Idioms  

  1. see break one's ass (chops); lick one's chops.

Etymology

Origin of chops

C16: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The pork chops of my childhood were thin, boneless, and oven-bound — salted and peppered just before they went in, cooked through without much ceremony.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026

Pork chops have a long-standing relationship with applesauce — something sweet on the side, a soft counterpoint to the richness.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026

The star of the new “Malcolm in the Middle” series on his father’s abandonment, a two-year motorcycle trip and his comedic chops.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

The stage puts a spotlight on smack-talk skills, functioning like a gym where wrestlers work out their character muscles, polish their submission holds and perfect their trash-talking chops in front of a panel of judges.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

“We should eat. I cooked pork chops and asparagus for dinner. It’s getting cold.”

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.