A Chip Off The Old Block

Language Snack

Exercise

1. If we call someone a chip off the old block, we mean they are:

a) good at making furniture

b) police officers

c) similar to their parents

2. What was the 'block' made of in the origin of this expression?

3. Which very well-known international figure is a chip off the old block?

Answers

1. c

2. wood

3. George W.Bush

Read

You’re listening to British Council’s English Online podcast and I’m Nina. Today on Language Snacks we take a look at the expression a chip off the old block. Let’s listen to the dialogue.

A: Guess who I saw the other day?

B: Go on, who?

A: Helen! And guess what? She's joined the police, just like her dad.

B: Really? She's a chip off the old block, isn't she?

A: Yes! She was always very similar to her dad though, wasn't she?

When we describe someone as a chip off the old block, we mean that they are similar to one or both of their parents. It could be about their appearance or their behaviour. The expression comes from carpentry and the idea is that the parent is a 'block' of wood, and the child is a small 'chip' of the same material. A famous example of a chip off the old block is George W.Bush, who, just like his father, went into politics and, of course, became the president of the Unites States.

And that’s it for now – join us again for some more Language Snacks. You’ve been listening to English Online – the podcast for English learners in China.

Sat, 13/03/2010 - 1:35am — vanillalord

1.c
2.the parent is a block of wood ,and the child is a small chip of the same material.
3. George W. Bush

vanillalord

Tue, 09/03/2010 - 10:16am — English Online Visitor

i am a chip of the block!

English Online Visitor

Tue, 09/03/2010 - 10:16am — English Online Visitor

it's great, i am a chip of the old block. but feels good!

English Online Visitor

Tue, 09/03/2010 - 3:42am — English Online Visitor

this is my first time to visit here~it's very usful

English Online Visitor

Tue, 02/03/2010 - 3:15pm — fantancy

i am chip off the old block

fantancy

Tue, 02/03/2010 - 3:54am — English Online Visitor

thanks a lot

English Online Visitor

Sat, 27/02/2010 - 10:09pm — jelly_loe

I'm totally a chip off the old block!!

jelly_loe

Sat, 27/02/2010 - 4:38am — sumaya

sumai

The first and third answer I hear ,but the second I don't catch it
how over , the maining of chip off the old block becuase I seem like my father in every thing like the way that I think and the ideas experss and many thing.

Thanks

sumaya

Tue, 23/02/2010 - 5:30pm — English Online Visitor

A chip of old block is a good expression to describe somebody,so as we know that there are plenty of choices in English.

English Online Visitor

Mon, 01/02/2010 - 2:44pm — English Online Visitor

Thanks, English online service

English Online Visitor