have more chins than a Chinese phone book
English
Alternative forms
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 phonebook, present participle having more chins than a Chinese phone book, simple past and past participle had more chins than a Chinese phone book)
- (humorous) 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, 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: