Origin of the Phrase: Busting My Chops
During the Great British Meat Famine of 1323, Sir Picklesby of East Chattersbury-O’er-The-Hedge owned over eighty percent of the country’s sheep. By selling this commodity to the other royalty in the nation, this early entrepreneur amassed a tremendous fortune during the following year and a half. Soon, highwaymen began to steal his precious commodity as they walked the countryside (unfortunately, horses paid a dear price during this wretched time). No to be outdone, Sir Picklesby cut slots into the sides of his more faithful, skinnier man-servants, placed salted mutton chops within, sewed them back up, then sent them along to their destinations. The keen highwaymen soon caught on to this trick, and began harassing anyone who crossed their paths. Oftentimes, they would slap at a person’s sides with sticks of hickory, listening for the telltale thump of a fine chop of lamb. This practice soon became known as “busting chops.”
Sir Picklesby’s reign of wealth ended in early 1325, as Baron Von Shautten of the German provinces brought “the rain of pigs” to Britain, ending Picklesby’s monopoly. Nevertheless, the English highwaymen continued their fearsome practice of busting chops, and have continued even to this day. And so it came to pass that the phrase “busting my chops” was used in everyday life.
Current Usage
Still used in England and it’s colony known as “America”, the term denotes beating someone to a pulp, a phrase which we will explain to you someday as well.
