And when he finished the last one — he cashed in his chips.
(Small note: the lines I used dark humour; be careful with audience sensitivity.)
That headline practically writes itself. The word ‘chip‘ appears twice here — but in two completely different senses. One use of chip refers to a small piece broken off (or the idea of a grievance), and the other is an idiom meaning to die or stop working. Below are the expressions and how to use them.
1. To have a chip on one’s shoulder — to be angry or resentful; to hold a grudge.
Meaning: Someone with a chip on their shoulder is irritated or feels wronged by others, often looking for a fight or slights.
Example: It wasn’t the first time he’d taken food without asking — no wonder she had a chip on her shoulder.
2. To cash in one’s chips — (informal) to die / to stop functioning.
Meaning: This idiom originally comes from gambling (chips as stakes). To “cash in one’s chips” means to give up one’s stake — figuratively, to die or be finished. Use with caution: it’s informal and can be flippant when talking about death.
Example: And when he finished the last one — well, he cashed in his chips.
Quick teaching activity (2–3 minutes)
- Show the image and the headline. Ask learners to predict two idioms/expressions using the word chip.
- Reveal the idioms and ask students to match each idiom to its meaning.
- Follow up: students make a short sentence about a situation where someone might “have a chip on their shoulder” (real or fictional).