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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.

Blue Owl touted its technology investing chops for years and helped pioneer private-credit lending to SaaS companies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Sumathi developed her reporting chops as a metro reporter, covering immigration, politics and education for Newsday, the Baltimore Sun, the News & Observer and the Providence Journal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

Private equity buyers are probably licking their chops; Orlando Bravo, the founder of private-equity firm Thoma Bravo, said as much during an interview from Davos last month.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

The Patriots defence has been brilliant in the play-offs though, bagging four interceptions off CJ Stroud, and they will be licking their chops going up against such a rusty and inexperienced quarterback.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

I look on at how carefully Hideo fries meat, chops vegetables, and sets rice in the steamer.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

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.