chop-chop

[ chop-chop ]

adverb

1. with haste; quickly.

chop chop

adverb

1. pidgin English for quickly See quickly

Word History and Origins

Origin of chop-chop¹

1825–35; repetitive compound based on Chinese Pidgin English chop quick, of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of chop-chop¹

C19: from Chinese dialect; related to Cantonese kap kap

Example Sentences

“But I am on a tight schedule, so we must ‘chop-chop,’ as they say.”

From Literature

“The book! Where are Anansi’s stories? We should get started right away. Preparations need to begin, no time to waste, chop-chop.”

From Literature

Some of the words now included in the OED, for example "sef", "chop-chop" and "gist", have derived their meaning from the way that Pidgin speakers use them.

From BBC

He does screenplays at the same chop-chop pace.

From The Guardian

In four or five chop-chop years, the mill town became “The Shingle Capital of the World,” and more often than not, it smelled like cedar.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• expeditiously
• hastily
• hurriedly
• immediately
• instantaneously
• instantly
• promptly
• rapidly
• speedily
• swiftly