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“Chew the fat” and “chew the rag” are English expressions for casual conversation or gossip, dating back to the 19th century. The origin of the phrases is uncertain, but they likely describe mouth movements common to both chewing and speaking. The “fat” in “chew the fat” may refer to salted pork, a staple of shipboard life. “Rag chewing” may have originated from soldiers or sailors who chewed rags when tobacco was not available. The phrases’ original meanings were to complain or lament, but they came to mean idle conversation or gossip in the early 20th century. An anonymous essay on the Internet inaccurately attributed these phrases to 16th-century rural life.
“Chew the fat” is an English expression meaning to indulge in casual conversation or gossip. It is related to the old-fashioned phrase “chew the rag.” Both phrases date back to the 19th century and were originally meant to complain or lament. The origin of these terms is uncertain. Most sources agree, however, that they likely describe mouth movements that are common to both chewing and speaking.
The Oxford English Dictionary, a widely used reference for English words and phrases, records the first published appearance of such terms. He dates the phrase “chew the fat” back to 1885, crediting it to a book about British soldiers stationed in India. Most colloquialisms, however, are used in conversation for years or even decades before appearing in print. “Chew the rag” appears in American sources as early as 1875. While no definitive coinage has been documented, both phrases appear to have originated no earlier than the mid-19th century.
The nature of the “fat” in “chew the fat” is equally uncertain. Some sources suggest that it refers to salted pork, a staple of shipboard life in early naval history. Before the advent of refrigeration, food was often preserved by seasoning it with salt. This long-lasting source of protein was stored on ships for long voyages when other food supplies ran out. Salted pork may be tough and fatty, requiring thorough chewing before it is digestible.
“Rag chewing” is also attributed to sailors or soldiers who would be forced to chew rags when chewing tobacco was not available. It is suggested that they lamented their deprivation, giving the phrase its original meaning; “chewing fat” has been given a similar explanation. However, there is no documentation to support these stories, and “chew the rag” could probably come from the phrase “stracciare,” which means to scold or complain. In any case, “chew the fat” came to mean “or make idle conversation or gossip in the early 20th century. It retains these meanings to the present day, with its older meanings and variations usually forgotten.
In 1999, an anonymous essay entitled “Life in the 1500s” appeared on the Internet and was widely circulated by e-mail. “Life in the 1500s” provided an inaccurate explanation for “chew the fat” and many other common phrases, such as “take home the bacon” and “saved by the bell.” He attributed these phrases to 16th-century rural life, which was also inaccurately described and which predated many of these terms by centuries. Whether created out of malice or simple ignorance, the statements in “Life in the 16s” have since been thoroughly discredited.
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