Meaning
To chat at length in a relaxed, informal way; to pass the time in friendly, unhurried conversation. It suggests idle talk among companions rather than a serious discussion. Informal. Casual, colloquial register with a warm, nostalgic connotation of unhurried talk. Regional use: General English.
Origin
The earliest known citation is from 1885, in J. Brunlees Patterson's 'Life in the Ranks of the British Army in India', where the sense seems closer to grumbling or complaining at length than to pleasant chat; the friendlier 'chat' meaning became standard in the early twentieth century. The expression is generally treated as a variation of the earlier 'chew the rag', and naval slang for voluble talkers has also been cited. Numerous colourful origin stories circulate, including sailors or soldiers literally chewing tough salt fat while talking and Inuit chewing blubber; etymologists such as Michael Quinion class these as creative inventions with no documentary support, and the documented record begins with the 1885 book.
Research Sources
References used to check this entry’s meaning, history, or documented forms.
Variants
- chew the rag
- chewing the fat
- have a chew-the-fat session
- sit around chewing the fat
Usage Examples
- The two old friends spent the afternoon chewing the fat over coffee.
- On night shifts the guards would chew the fat to stay awake.
- Stop chewing the fat and hand me that wrench, will you?