从A到Z畅谈美国流行文化：Chip 说来惭愧
<p>每次听到<span word="chip">chip</span>这个词，我脑子里最先出现的是食 物，<span word="chocolate">chocolate</span> <span word="chip">chip</span> <span word="cookies">cookies</span> (巧克力碎屑饼干 )和<span word="potato">potato</span> <span word="chips">chips</span>(薯片)。其实<span word="chip">chip</span>本义是木头 ，玻璃等碎物，那些食品名称则是在本义基础上衍 生出来的，我的第一反应实在有点“本末倒置”的 味道，</p><p>不如就介绍两个根<span word="chip">chip</span>有关的短语吧，<span word="a">a</span> <span word="chip">chip</span> <span word="on">on</span> <span word="someone">someone</span>’<span word="s">s</span> <span word="shoulder">shoulder</span>这个短语源于近两 百年前美国校园内流行的习俗，如果两个男孩子想 打架，其中一个先在自己肩膀上放一块木头碎片，问对方敢不敢把它打落下来，如果对方接受了挑战 ，两人聚正式开打，直到分出胜负为止，换句话说，“肩膀上的碎片” 起挑衅的作用。一旦谁在肩上放了木头碎片，他就进入 随时开打的状态，相当具有攻击性。</p><p>1830年5月20日，<span word="Long">Long</span> <span word="Island">Island</span> <span word="Telegraph">Telegraph</span>(纽 约的一份报纸)第一次提到了<span word="chip">chip</span> <span word="on">on</span> <span word="someone">someone</span>'<span word="s">s</span> <span word="shoulder">shoulder</span>的 概念，那篇文章描述的就是打架前在肩上放碎片的习俗。同年12月 8日，<span word="The">The</span> <span word="Onondaga">Onondaga</span> <span word="Standard">Standard</span>(同样是纽约的一份报纸)也 提到了<span word="chip">chip</span> <span word="on">on</span> <span word="someone">someone</span>'<span word="s">s</span> <span word="shoulder">shoulder</span>的概念，但文字略有出入： <span word="Oh">Oh</span>! <span word="If">If</span> <span word="only">only</span> <span word="I">I</span> <span word="could">could</span> <span word="get">get</span> <span word="him">him</span> <span word="to">to</span> <span word="knock">knock</span> <span word="a">a</span> <span word="chip">chip</span> <span word="off">off</span> <span word="my">my</span> <span word="shoulder">shoulder</span>.1 <span word="would">would</span> <span word="give">give</span> <span word="him">him</span> <span word="one">one</span> <span word="of">of</span> <span word="the">the</span> <span word="soundest">soundest</span> <span word="thrashings">thrashings</span> <span word="he">he</span> <span word="ever">ever</span> <span word="had">had</span>.(噢!要是 我能让他接受打落我肩上碎片的挑战就好了，我肯定痛打他一顿，让他吃 不了兜着走。)很明显，<span word="knock">knock</span> <span word="a">a</span> <span word="chip">chip</span> <span word="off">off</span> <span word="my">my</span> <span word="shoulder">shoulder</span>(把碎片 从我肩上打下来)的前提就是<span word="I">I</span> <span word="have">have</span> <span word="a">a</span> <span word="chip">chip</span> <span word="on">on</span> <span word="my">my</span> <span word="shoulder">shoulder</span>(我肩 上有碎片)。 除了<span word="have">have</span>之外，<span word="wear">wear</span>和<span word="carry">carry</span>也可以跟<span word="chip">chip</span> <span word="on">on</span> <span word="someone">someone</span>'<span word="s">s</span> <span word="shoulder">shoulder</span>搐配使用，意思不变。</p>
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