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Glite Dictionary
to chip in

to chip in

31 3.2
Give money or help together to reach a shared goal
  • phrasal verb
  • /tʃɪp ɪn/
translation icon : contribuir
  • You have to help yourself first, and on occasion the government may chip in something worthy.
  • chip in to buy
  • chip in and pay
  • chip in money

But all I did was talk about the wanting to take a class and for my birthday, my regulars and the other wait staff chipped in to buy my first groundlings class.

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Examples

  • How much did your parents chip in, Jackson? -

    An Ideal Host (2020)

  • Or he leaves it for others to chip in and help.

    Blog text (24)

  • Let me know, and I will chip in to send them back.

    Blog text (8)

  • The governments are all too happy to 'chip in' our tax dollars.

    Blog text (17)

  • Anyway... we all chipped in, and we got you just a little something.

    The Substance (2024)

  • If you want to live here, you got to start chipping in.

    8 Mile (2002)

  • We all chipped in for a little present, too.

    Shrek the Third (2007)

  • We chipped in and got you this beer.

    Parts: The Clonus Horror (1979)

  • If your kids are older, ask them to chip in and take on a few chores.

    Blog text (2)

  • The community members decided to chip in to build a new playground for the children.

Synonyms

to give
vsto chip in
∞ 1.0

To offer time, effort, or money to help others

focuses on contributing to a shared goal together with others rather than to one person
to contribute
vsto chip in
883 2.7

To give money, help, or ideas to make something work

includes giving money resources or effort especially with others
to pitch in
vsto chip in
58 3.3

Join others to give work, help, or money for a shared task

focuses more broadly on money resources or effort rather than only work
to join hands
vsto chip in
24 2.7

To work together with others for the same goal

implies actively giving money resources or effort as part of that cooperation
to kick in
vsto chip in
  • Informal
18 4.1

Give money to help pay for a shared cost

also covers joining others to give effort as well as resources
to put into the kitty
vsto chip in
  • Informal
6.2

Give money to a shared pot to pay for something the group needs

covers giving money or effort directly as part of group action not only funds

Antonyms

to withdraw
159 3.5

To take money or things out of a place where they are kept

to keep to oneself
27 5.4

To not tell others your thoughts or feelings

How Much

to sponsor
362 3.7
to contribute
883 2.7
to chip in
31 3.2
to help out
  • Informal
486 1.0

Surface Forms

chip in infinitive
chipped in past
chipped in past participle
chipping in present participle
chips in third person singular

Morphology

chip + in

The sense 'to contribute (money/effort)' has a loose metaphorical link to a small 'chip' being put 'in' a common pot, so speakers who can map 'chip' as a small token and 'in' as joining might infer the meaning. However, the verbalized idiomatic use and the required metaphorical shift are not fully predictable for an average B1 learner who knows only the constituent words, so prior exposure is typically needed.

Etymology

Chip in comes from old card and gambling games where each player would drop a small chip into the 'pot' to show their share, creating the image of adding a little piece to a group pile. That's why chip in now means 'to add money, help, or ideas together with others'.