have more chins than a Chinese phone book
English edit
Alternative forms edit
- have more chins than a Chinese phonebook
- have got more chins than a Chinese phone book, have got more chins than a Chinese phonebook
Etymology edit
A pun on the word chin and the common Chinese surname Chin. The phrase was likely popularized by the American comic Joan Rivers.
Pronunciation edit
Audio (AU) (file)
Verb edit
have more chins than a Chinese phone book (third-person singular simple present has more chins than a Chinese phone book, present participle having more chins than a Chinese phone book, simple past and past participle had more chins than a Chinese phone book)
- (humorous, offensive) To be exceedingly fat, especially under the chin (as in a "double chin").
- 1981 March 30, Gerald Clarke, “Show Business: The Long Way to Broadway”, in TIME:
- "This woman has more chins than a Chinese phone book," says Comedian Joan Rivers in a not at all funny pay cable television special.
- 1995, Doug Robinson, "How about replacing rosters with these subs?," The Deseret News, Feb 25, 1995, section D:
- Our leadoff hitter has more chins than a Chinese phone book.