Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
chop-chop en · ADV
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Chinese Pidgin English, from Cantonese 速速 (cuk1 cuk1, “quick”). Recorded in English since the 1830s (see citations for adverb). Recorded as a Chinese term in 1795.
Meanings
-
(not-comparable) Quickly.
"Sam, when you have catchee chow-chow, I want you chop-chop" (quickly).
1850, J. Berncastle, A Voyage to China, London: W. Shoberl, page 66:‘And another beer! But cold this time, hear that, boy? Muchee coldee, and bring it chop chop.’
1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society, published 2010, page 13:"Well, more soon, more better; sendee chop chop," I told him.
1836 May 18, The Commercial Journal and Advertiser, Sydney, page 4, column 3:
Forms
Descendants
txapo-txapo · chapo-chapo
chop-chop en · INTJ
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Chinese Pidgin English, from Cantonese 速速 (cuk1 cuk1, “quick”). Recorded in English since the 1830s (see citations for adverb). Recorded as a Chinese term in 1795.
Meanings
-
Used to urge someone to do something quickly.
We got places to be, pal! Chop chop!
2023 December 9, MasterSwordRemix, quoting Flowey, Undertale Yellow, UG Apartments, Neutral Route:‘Now you get down to the bathroom an’ I’ll hop ashore and organise it. Chop-chop.’
1960, J. E. Macdonnell, Don't Gimme the Ships, Melbourne: Horwitz Publications, page 137:(Singapore) chop-chop kalipok
Forms
Translations (42)
hi जल्दी (hurry up) · pl raz-dwa (hurry up) · el τσάκα τσάκα (hurry up) · ko 빨리 빨리 (hurry up) · lt greičiau greičiau (hurry up) · es pronto (hurry up) · fr et on se dépêche ! (hurry up) · de zack zack (hurry up) · es fierro (hurry up) · fr plus vite que ça ! (hurry up) · cs šup šup (hurry up) · it affrettati (hurry up) · es presto (hurry up) · ja 早く早く (hurry up) · fi hop hop (hurry up) · ca briu (hurry up) · vi đi đi mau (hurry up) · fr grouille-grouille ! grouille-toi ! (hurry up) · fi mars mars (hurry up) · hu gyorsan (hurry up) · sv skynda! (hurry up) · bn তাড়াতাড়ি (hurry up) · cmn 快點 /快点 (hurry up) · it affrettatevi (hurry up) · de dalli dalli (hurry up) · mg malakilaky (hurry up) · cs fofrem (hurry up) · vi đi đi (hurry up) · fi hopi hopi (hurry up) · de hopp hopp (hurry up) · sv skynda på! (hurry up) · fr vite-vite (hurry up) · pt depressa (hurry up) · fr on va pas coucher là ! (hurry up) · ar يالا بنا (hurry up) · bn উইরাতালা (hurry up) · mg faingana (hurry up) · nl vlug een beetje! (hurry up) · sv skynda dig! (hurry up) · pl szybciej (hurry up) · ru бы́стро-бы́стро (hurry up) · fr magne-toi ! (hurry up)
chop-chop en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Chinese Pidgin English, from Cantonese 速速 (cuk1 cuk1, “quick”). Recorded in English since the 1830s (see citations for adverb). Recorded as a Chinese term in 1795.
Meanings
-
(Australia, informal, uncountable) Tobacco that is produced and sold without excise (tax), and therefore cheap and illegal.
Attitudes to tobacco mean it′s virtually sold under the counter (and we′re not talking about ‘chop chop’).
2007, Martin Hughes, The Slow Guide: Melbourne, unnumbered page:We are here today to try and do the impossible: to stop the chop chop industry.
1944, Australian House of Representatives, Parliamentary Debates, volume 265, page 30968:2002 November 11, Major ‘chop chop’ seizure in Northern Queensland, Australian Taxation Office, media release.
Forms