Meaning & use
chap
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Meanings
nouncountableinformalBritishold-fashioned
A man or boy, used in a friendly, casual way.
Grammar: Countable and usually singular in reference to one person: a nice chap.
Patterns
- a decent chap
- old chap
He seems a pleasant chap, if a little shy.
I met a chap at the station who knew your father.
Be a good chap and hold the door.
nounusually plural
A sore, rough or cracked area on skin, especially on the lips or hands, caused by cold or wind.
Grammar: Usually plural: chaps on his hands.
Patterns
- chaps on something
The winter wind left painful chaps on her lips.
He rubbed cream into the chaps on his hands.
nounpluralAmerican
Heavy leather leg coverings worn over trousers by cowboys to protect the legs while riding.
Grammar: Plural and used with a plural verb: his chaps were worn.
Patterns
- a pair of chaps
The rider pulled on his leather chaps before mounting.
Her chaps protected her legs from the thorny brush.
A pair of chaps hung on the barn wall.
verbtransitive or intransitive
If skin chaps, it becomes rough, sore and cracked, usually because of cold, wind or dryness.
Grammar: Used both ways: my lips chap; the wind chapped my hands.
Patterns
- chap something
- get chapped
Cold wind can chap your cheeks within minutes.
His lips chapped badly during the ski trip.
Her hands were chapped from washing dishes.
Word forms
| plural | chaps |
|---|---|
| third person singular | chaps |
| past tense | chapped |
| past participle | chapped |
| -ing form | chapping |
Common combinations
- a decent chap
- He is a decent chap who always pays his debts.
- old chap
- Cheer up, old chap, things will improve.
- a funny chap
- My uncle is a funny chap with endless stories.
- chapped lips
- Lip balm helps with chapped lips in winter.
- leather chaps
- He wore leather chaps on the ranch.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fellow
- Fellow is similar but slightly more formal and can sound just as dated, while chap is warmer and more British.
- guy
- Guy is the everyday American equivalent and is far more common in the US than chap.
- bloke
- Bloke is also British and sounds more working-class and relaxed than chap.
- man
- Man is neutral and general, whereas chap adds a friendly, informal tone.
Word family
Commonly confused: chap or chop?
chap vs chop
Chop is to cut with a blow, as in chop wood, and is unrelated to chap.
Practice
Which sentence uses chap in its British informal sense?
Choose one answer.
Only the third sentence means a man. The others use chap for cracked skin, cowboy leg guards or the verb for cracking.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “chap”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.