chisel

chisel
   to steal or cheat
   The imagery is from the removal of slivers from wood with a sharp instrument. The thefts so described may be minor and repetitious, and the cheating mean:
    Gotham liked to chisel whatever 'float' it could over the weekend. (M. Thomas, 1980, describing the banking practice of stealing the interest on customers' money by being dilatory about transfers on Fridays)
   On the chisel is so to behave:
    He'd be pretty sore if I was on the chisel. Not that I don't like money. (Chandler, 1953)
   A chiseller so behaves or, in America, saves expense by avoiding compliance with a law or regulation of which he disapproves.

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • chisel — [ ʃizɛl ] n. m. • v. 1980; de l angl., empr. à l a. fr. chisel, forme de cisel « ciseau » ♦ Agric. Gros cultivateur (2o ) à dents plates et incurvées. ● chisel nom masculin Instrument de travail superficiel du sol à grand dégagement sous bâti, à… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Chisel — Chis el, n. [OF. chisel, F. ciseau, fr. LL. cisellus, prob. for caesellus, fr. L. caesus, p. p. of caedere to cut. Cf. {Scissors}.] A tool with a cutting edge on one end of a metal blade, used in dressing, shaping, or working in timber, stone,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Chisel — Chis el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Chiseled}, or {Chiselled} (?); p. pr. & vb. n. {Chiseling}, or {Chiselling}.] [Cf. F. ciseler.] 1. To cut, pare, gouge, or engrave with a chisel; as, to chisel a block of marble into a statue. [1913 Webster] 2. To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chisel — [chiz′əl] n. [NormFr (OFr cisel) < VL * cisellum, for L * caesellum < caesus, pp. of caedere, to cut: see CIDE] a hand tool with a sharp, often wedge shaped, blade for cutting or shaping wood, stone, etc., specif., such a tool that is… …   English World dictionary

  • chisel — (n.) early 14c., from O.Fr. cisel (12c., Mod.Fr. ciseau) chisel, in pl., scissors, shears, from V.L. *cisellum cutting tool, from L. caesellum, dim. of caesus, pp. of caedere to cut (see CIDE (Cf. cide)). Related: Chiseled; chise …   Etymology dictionary

  • chisel\ in\ on — • chisel in on • muscle in on v. phr. 1. To illegitimately and forcefully intrude into someone s traditional sales or professional arena of operation. Tim has a good sales territory, but he is always afraid that someone might chisel in on it. Las …   Словарь американских идиом

  • chisel — [n] shaping tool adze, blade, edge, gouge, knife; concepts 495,499 chisel [v] cut, wear away carve, hew, incise, roughcast, roughhew, sculpt, sculpture, shape; concepts 137,176,184 …   New thesaurus

  • chisel — ► NOUN ▪ a long bladed hand tool with a bevelled cutting edge, used to cut or shape wood, stone, or metal. ► VERB (chiselled, chiselling; US chiseled, chiseling) 1) cut or shape with a chisel. 2) (chiselled) (of a man s f …   English terms dictionary

  • chisel — index bilk, create Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • chisel — CHISÉL s.n. Preparat culinar specific bucătăriei ruseşti şi scandinave, din piure sau sirop de fructe roşii (fructe de pădure, căpşune, zmeură), legat cu amidon; servit cald sau rece, decorat cu frişcă; rus. kissel. Trimis de gal, 08.02.2009.… …   Dicționar Român

  • chisel — vb sculpture, sculpt, sculp, *carve, incise, engrave, etch Analogous words: *cut, chop: produce, turn out (see BEAR): shape, fashion, form (see MAKE) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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