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chop it up

B2 slang intransitive
In simple words

To talk casually with someone and have a good time chatting.

Literal meaning: To chop something up into pieces — the figurative leap to 'exchanging words back and forth' mirrors the chopping metaphor.

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic slang

(Informal/slang) To have a casual, enjoyable conversation; to hang out and talk with someone.

"We spent the whole afternoon just chopping it up on the porch, talking about everything and nothing."

"I got a chance to chop it up with him backstage after the show."

Grammar: inseparable
2 A2 neutral

To cut something into small pieces.

"Chop it up into small cubes before you add it to the pan."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Originates in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and hip-hop culture; now widely used in American informal English among young speakers. Also has a literal sense: to cut something into small pieces. The conversational sense is the more culturally loaded and distinctive use. Common in social media captions and urban speech.

Commonly used with

friends crew studio podcast interview time

Forms

Base
chop it up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
chops it up
he/she/it
Past simple
choped it up
yesterday
Past participle
choped it up
have + pp
-ing form
choping it up
continuous

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Synonyms

chat shoot the breeze hang out chew the fat talk gab

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