have more chins than a Chinese phone book
English
Alternative forms
- 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
A pun on the word chin and the common Chinese surname Chin. The phrase was likely popularized by the American comic Joan Rivers.
Pronunciation
Audio (AU) (file)
Verb
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, Gerald Clarke, "Show Business: The Long Way to Broadway," TIME, Mar. 30, 1981:
- "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.
- 2004, Andy Kessler, Running Money: Hedge Fund Honchos, Monster Markets and My Hunt for the Big Score, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 131:
- My friend, Hank Zona, used to nod his head in someone's direction and whisper, "That guy has more chins than a Chinese phone book."
- 1981, Gerald Clarke, "Show Business: The Long Way to Broadway," TIME, Mar. 30, 1981:
See also
- have more chins than Chinatown