Carry on like a pork chop

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Meaning

Make an excessive fuss, behave foolishly or become noisily agitated. Very informal. The fuller synagogue version can sound culturally insensitive and is best treated as historical context rather than a recommended form. Regional use: Australia.

Origin

Australian evidence for this shortened wording is documented from 1975. It is probably related to the fuller and older comparison like a pork chop in a synagogue, where pork is conspicuously out of place because it is not kosher. The popular explanation that a frying pork chop splutters dramatically is intuitive but is not securely documented as the source.

Variants

  • Go on like a pork chop
  • Carry on like a pork chop in a synagogue
  • Behave like a pork chop

Usage Examples

  • There is no need to carry on like a pork chop; the next bus comes in ten minutes.
  • Max went on like a pork chop when the umpire reversed the decision.

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