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 (General Australian): (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.