PhrasesHub

chipping in

    Definitions

      • contributing
        To contribute or donate a small amount of money or effort to a cause or activity

      • interrupting
        To interject or join a conversation or discussion with one's own input or opinion

    Examples of chipping in

    • Sarah chipped in $50 towards the group birthday gift for her friend's daughter.

      Chipping in refers to contributing a portion of something, usually financial, to a group or joint effort. In this context, Sarah is helping the group pay for the birthday gift by giving $50.

    • During the company brainstorming session, Tom chipped in with some innovative ideas for the marketing campaign.

      Chipping in with ideas is using the idiom in a different sense. It refers to actively participating and contributing suggestions during a group discussion or problem-solving session.

    • The kids were watching a movie, and when the snacks ran out, Emily's little brother chipped in by grabbing a bag of chips from the pantry.

      Chipping in can also be used to refer to a smaller and plausible contribution, as in this case where the child brought a snack to share when others ran out.

    • The building committee asked for donations to fix the old community center, and after hearing the plea, the neighborhood association decided to chip in and take charge of the renovation process.

      Chipping in for a cause or a task is a way to cooperate and collaborate with others for a common goal. In this example, the neighborhood association agreed to help repair the community center.

    • Sarah chipped in with some ideas during the team meeting.

      In this example, "chipping in" refers to Sarah making a contribution or offering some suggestions during the team meeting. This idiom is used when someone adds their thoughts or ideas to a conversation or activity, typically when it is not expected of them.

    • At the potluck dinner, everyone chipped in to bring a dish.

      In this example, "chipping in" refers to everyone bringing a dish for the potluck dinner. This idiom is used to describe when people contribute or share something, especially when it is expected of them.

    • John chipped in his share of the appliance repair bill.

      In this example, "chipping in" refers to John paying his part of the appliance repair bill. This idiom is used to describe when people contribute or pay their fair share of something, typically when it is expected of them.

    • The band members chipped in for a documentary about their late manager.

      In this example, "chipping in" refers to the band members contributing money for a documentary about their late manager. This idiom is used to describe when people contribute money, resources, or time for a particular cause or project.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "chipping in" can have two main meanings. It can refer to contributing or donating a small amount of money or effort to a cause or activity. It can also mean interjecting or joining a conversation or discussion with one's own input or opinion.

    In the first sense, "chipping in" is often used when people are pooling their resources to help with a common goal, such as collecting money for a gift or contributing to a charitable cause. In the second sense, it is used when someone wants to add their thoughts or opinions to a conversation or discussion.

    Overall, "chipping in" is a versatile idiom that can be used in various contexts to convey the idea of contributing or interrupting.

    Origin of "chipping in"

    The origin of the idiom "chipping in" can be traced back to the 19th century. The term "chip" has been used to mean a small piece or fragment since the 14th century, and the addition of "in" creates the idea of adding or contributing something small. This idiom likely originated from the practice of workers in a group each contributing a small amount of money or effort to a collective task, such as chipping in to buy a gift for a colleague.

    Over time, the idiom has evolved to encompass not only contributing to a common fund but also joining in a conversation or discussion. The concept of "chipping in" has become a widely understood and commonly used expression in the English language, conveying the idea of making a small contribution or adding one's input.