2006.07.16 : have (carry) a chip on one’s shoulder.
叫阵,叫板的意思。Chip的意思是木板。
这一语源于儿童游戏。如果一方的孩子要当首领的话,他放一块木板在自己的肩膀上,问对方的孩子敢不敢把木板打掉。如果有人挑战,那么两个人就要决出输赢。此语由此转喻为“针锋相对”“互不相让”或“好斗”,有时又与汉语的“叫板”近似。例如:
He is not popular among his peers. He always seems to have a chip on his shoulder.
他在同学中人缘不好,他好像总要别人叫板。
此外,该语还可意指“不满”或“对抗”。例如:
Mary has got a chip on her shoulder about not having obtained the scholarship.
玛丽由于没有得到奖学金而愤愤不平。
海纳百川,有容乃大;壁立千仞,无欲则刚。